Diapause specific proteins expressed by the brain during the pupal diapause of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis

Abstract

Proteins synthesized by pupal brains of Sarcophaga crassipalpis were examined during diapause and nondiapause conditions using pulse labelling and 2-dimensional electrophoresis. In vitro cultured brains from diapausing pupae synthesized fewer proteins than brains from nondiapausing pupae or pharate adults. Brains from older diapausing pupae (60 days) synthesized slightly more proteins than brains from pupae in early diapause (14 days). A cluster of about 15 brain proteins appears to be specific to diapausing pupae. In contrast, no differences could be detected in the brain proteins of the photosensitive first-instar larvae exposed to long (nondiapause) or short (diapause) daylengths.