Abstract
THE process by which insects harden and darken their exoskeletons after ecdysis (sclerotization) has been studied extensively1. It is believed that ecdysone controls sclerotization in dipteran puparia by inducing synthesis in the epidermis of an enzyme (DOPA decarboxylase) which catalyses the key step in the biosynthesis of the sclerotizing agent (N-acetyl dopamine) from L-p-tyrosine2. At the imaginal ecdysis of many insects (Diptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera) another hormone, a polypeptide called the “tanning hormone” (bursicon), is involved3. The work described here concerns the little known4 mode of action of the tanning hormone.
Full Text 
Sign-in/Register to access full text options
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Published version (
Free)
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
