A comparative analysis of juvenile hormone metabolyzing enzymes in two species of Drosophila during development.

The course of changes in the activities of enzymes degrading juvenile hormone (JH), epoxyde hydrolase (JHEH) and JH-esterase (JHE) was studied in two lines of Drosophila virilis (101 and 147) and in two lines of D. melanogaster (Canton-S and 921283). It was established for D. virilis that changes in the JH titre during pupal-adult development is determined by the activity level of JHE rather then JHEH, while in D. melanogaster developmental changes in JH titre are related to changes in the activity level of both JHE and JHEH. In adults of D. virilis, the high level of JH-hydrolysing activity is determined by JHE and in those of D. melanogaster by JHEH. Differences in the course of changes in the JHE activity level between adults of lines 101 and 147 of D. virilis were found, and also in the JHEH activity level between adults of lines Canton S and 921283 of D. melanogaster. It was shown that attainment of a definite JHE activity level in females of lines 101 and 147 agrees well with the onset of oviposition of fertilized eggs. The possible role of JHE in reproduction of D. virilis is discussed.