Glycerol kinase activity and glycerol kinase-3 gene are up-regulated by acclimation to 5 degrees C in diapause eggs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

With initiation of diapause, glycogen is converted into sorbitol and glycerol in eggs of the silkworm Bombyx mori. At diapause termination promoted by incubation at 5 degrees C, sorbitol and glycerol are utilized. Although sorbitol utilization is triggered by NAD-sorbitol dehydrogenase induced by acclimation to 5 degrees C, the initial enzyme utilizing glycerol remains unclear.