배추흰나비(Pieris rapae L.)의 용시기의 큐티클단백질의 형성 및 경화에 따른 tyrosine의 대사를 규명하기 위하여 용화직후 혈림프내에 $^3$H-leucine 또는 $^{14}$ C-tyrosine을 주입시킨 후 일정시간 간격으로 혈림프, 지방체, 장 및 큐티클내의 leucine과 tyrosine의 방사능을 Beckman LS-100C Liquid Scintillation counter로 측정비교하였다. 큐티클단백질의 대부분은 용화후 3시간내에 합성되었으며 큐티클 경화작용은 그 이후에 일어났다. 용화직후 혈림프내에 종재하는 tyrosine은 적어도 용화후 수시간동안은 장과 지방체 사이를 자유로이 이동하였으며, 지방체는 경화직전에 tyrosine의 단기저장소로써 작용하였다.
The present work has been carried out mainly to determine the metabolism of tyrosine during the formation of cuticle proteins and the hardening protest in Pieris rapae. After the injection of U-$^{14}$ C-tyrosine or U-$^3$H-leucine into the haemolymph just after ecdysis, the radioactivity of leucine and tyrosine in haemolymph, fat body, gut, and cuticle is measured in a Beckman LS-100C Liquid Scintillation Counter at the ends of the appropriate tine intervals. The incorporation of U-$^3$H-leucine into the cuticle occurs within the first 3hr after ecdysis whereas U-$^{l4}$C-tyrosine is incorporated at a steady rate for 6 hour. These data suggest that most of the cuticle protein is synthesized within the first 3 hour after ecdysis, while cuticle hardening process takes place thereafter. It is also suggested that tyrosine in the haemolymph at ecdysis are freely being exchanged between the gut and the fat body during the short-time period after ecdysis, and the fat body seems to act as a short-term store for tyrosine shortly before sclerotization rather than a long-term store.e.
