Metabolism of ϵ- N-trimethyllysine in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Free ϵ- N-trimethyllysine as reserve of carnitine

Abstract

1. 1. Only low levels of proteins rich in ϵ- N-trimethyllysine as sources of this free amino acid were found in the silkworm. 2. 2. Trimethyllysine did not function as a donor of methyl groups or as a lysine reserve. 3. 3. Carnitine was found to increase rapidly in the pharate adult and decrease after emergence, with concomitant decrease and increase, respectively, in the amount of trimethyllysine. 4. 4. When diet supplemented with trimethyllysine was given in the 5th larval stage, a markedly increased amount of carnitine was found at pupal-adult ecdysis.