Abstract
Studies with crabs (Charybdis japonica) and crayfish (Procambarusclarkii) revealed that the tryptophan metabolites, 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine (3-OH-K) and xanthurenic acid (XA), common secretory products of the X-organsinus gland complex of eyestalks from several decapods, regulated the molting of crustaceans in species-nonspecific fashion. Injection of 3-OH-K to the eyestalk-ablated crayfish delayed the onset of the first molt and lengthened the interval between the first and second molts. These lines of evidence were in accord with previous accounts of the so-called “molt inhibiting hormone” (MIH) effect. Removal of eyestalks caused a change in the conversion capacity of exogenous 3-OH-K to XA in the hemolymph. The peak in transformation capacity was followed by a peak in the titer of 20-hydroxyecdysone or molting hormone. Moreover, the seasonal profiles of the XA and ecdysone titers in Charybdis japonica exhibited a staggered relationship in the tissues tested. The ratio of XA to 3-OH-K, which is expected to indicate the apparent 3-OH-Kase activity, fluctuated seasonally and locally. When the Y-organ with the adhering tissues (Y-organ complex or YOC) was incubated during the period of high XA titer, the YOC produced 100 times more ecdyson than before incubation. It is suggested that ecdysteroidogenesis in situ was suppressed during this period by XA, but incubation of the YOC lead to a dramatic acceleration in ecdysone synthesis by overriding this inhibitory effect. XA profoundly repressed ecdysteroidogenesis in the YOC culture. Thus, XA is the ecdysone biosynthesis inhibitor (EBI) and 3-OH-K the precursor in crustaceans. An interfering effect of XA to a biocatalyst cytochrome P-450 system was postulated for the inhibition mechanism of ecdysteroidogenesis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Borst, D.W., Laufer, H., Landau, M., Chang, E.S., Hertz, W.A., Baker, F.C., and Schooley, D.A., 1987, Methyl farnesoate and its role in crustacean reproduction and development, Insect Biochem., 37: 1123.
Brown, F., and Cunningham, O., 1939, Influence of the sinus gland of crustaceans on normal viability and ecdysis, Biol. Bull., 77: 104.
Chang, E.S., Bruce, M.J., and Newcomb, R.W., 1987, Purification and amino acid composition of a peptide with molt-inhibiting activity from the lobster, Homarus americanus, Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 65: 56.
Chang, E.S., and O’Connor, J.D., 1977, Secretion of α-ecdysone by crab Y-organs in vitro, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 74: 615.
Kappler, C., Kabbouh, M., Hetru, C., Durst, F., and Hoffmann, J.A., 1988, Characterization of three hydroylases involved in the final steps of biosynthesis of the steroid hormone ecdysone in Locusta migratoria (Insecta, Orthoptera), J. Steroid Biochem., 31: 891.
Kleinholz, L.H., 1985, Biochemistry of crustacean hormones, in: “The Biology of Crustacea”, Vol. 9, Bliss, D.E., and Mantal, L.H., eds., Academic Press, Florida, pp. 463–522.
Laufer, H., Landau, M., Homola, E., and Borst, D.W., 1987, Methyl farnesoate: its site of synthesis and regulation of secretion in a juvenile crustacean, Insect Biochem., 17: 1129.
Lowe, M.E., Horn, D.H.S., and Galbraith, M.N., 1968, The role of crustecdysone in the moulting crayfish, Experientia, 24: 518.
Mattson, M.P., and Spaziani, E., 1985, 5-Hydroxytryptamine mediates release of molt-inhibiting hormone activity from isolated crab eyestalk ganglia, Biol. Bull., 169: 246.
Mattson, M.P., and Spaziani, E., 1987, Demonstration of protein kinase C activity in crustacean Y-organs, and partial definition of its role in regulation of ecdysteroidogenesis, Mole. Cell. Endocrinol., 49: 159.
Naya, Y., Kishida, K., Sugiyama, M., Murata, M., Miki, W., Ohnishi, M., and Nakanishi, K., 1988, Endogenous inhibitor of ecdysone synthesis in crabs, Experientia, 44: 50.
Naya, Y., Miki, W., Ohnishi, M., Ikeda, M., and Nakanishi, K., 1989, Endogenous xanthurenic acid as a regulator of the crustacean molt cycle, Pure Appl. Chem., 61: 465.
Passano, L.M., 1960, Molting and its control, in: “The Physiology of Crustacea”, Vol. 1, Waterman, T.H., ed., Academic Press, New York, pp. 473–536.
Rao, K.R., 1965, Isolation and partial characterization of the molt-inhibiting hormone of the crustacean eyestalk, Experientia, 21: 593.
Skinner, D.M., 1985, Molting and regeneration, in: “The Biology of Crustacea”, Vol. 9, Bliss, D.E., and Mantel, L.H., eds., Academic Press, Florida, pp. 43–146.
Smith, S.L., 1985, Regulation of ecdysteroid titer: synthesis, in: “Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology”, Kerkut, G.A., and Gilbert, L.I., eds., Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 295–334.
Soyez, D., and Kleinholz, L.H., 1977, Molt-inhibiting factor from the crustacean eyestalk, Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 31: 233.
Spaziani, E., 1988, Serum high-density lipoprotein in the crab, Cancer antennarius, Stimpson: II. annual cycles, J. Exp. Zool., 246: 315.
Spaziani, E., Ostedgaard, L.S., Vensel, W.H., and Hegmann, J.P., 1982, Effects of eyestalk removal in crabs: relation to normal premolt, J. Exp. Zool., 221: 323.
Watson, R.D., and Spaziani, E., 1985, Effects of eystalk removal on cholesterol uptake and ecdysone secretion by crab (Cancer antennarius) Y-organs in vitro. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 57: 360.
Webster, S.G., and Keller, R., 1986, Purification, characterization and amino acid composition of the putative molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of Carcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda), J. Comp. Physiol. B., 156: 617.
Zeleny, C., 1905, Compensatory regulation, J. Exp. Zool., 2: 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Naya, Y., Ohnishi, M., Ikeda, M., Miki, W., Nakanishi, K. (1991). Physiological Role of 3-Hydroxykynurenine and Xanthurenic Acid Upon Crustacean Molting. In: Schwarcz, R., Young, S.N., Brown, R.R. (eds) Kynurenine and Serotonin Pathways. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 294. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_28
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5954-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5952-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive