Role of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in regulation of biogenic amines levels by gonadotropins in Drosophila

Abstract

The effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and the juvenile hormone (JH) on the activity of the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) was studied in young females of wild-type D. virilis and D. melanogaster. 20E feeding of the flies led to a decrease in AANAT activity in both species when dopamine (DA) was used as substrate, but did not affect the enzyme activity when octopamine (OA) was used as substrate. JH application increased AANAT activity with DA as substrate in both species, but did not change it with OA as substrate. AANAT activity was also measured in young females of a JH-deficient strain of D. melanogaster, apterous ( 56f ). A decrease in the enzyme activity was observed in the mutant females as compared to wild-type. Mechanisms of regulation of DA level by gonadotropins in Drosophila are discussed.