[Functional activity of the salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster in the course of metamorphosis: a comparative electrophoretic analysis of the proteins of the salivary glands, fat body and hemolymph]

Abstract

The proteins of the salivary gland secretion at the moment of puparium formation and the protein composition of the salivary glands, fat-body and hemolymph during the III larval instar and 12 hours prepupal period were investigated by means of electrophoresis in polyacrilamide gel, in the presence of urea. Both the qualitative and quantitative differences in the protein composition of the salivary glands were found which appeared to be due to the change of functions of the salivary glands in the process of development. 69 protein fractions were isolated in the salivary gland secretion, 40 of them being PAS-positive. A correlation was noted between the appearance of the first PAS-positive fractions at the stage of 95-100 hrs (from the moment of egg laying) and the cytological demonstration of PAS-positive secretion granules. New glycoproteins appeared in the salivary glands in prepupae (2 hrs after the puparium formation) and, later, in the hemolymph. A complicated pattern of the secretion formation in the salivary glands of the III instar larvae and possible change of its composition during metamorphosis are discussed.