Calliphora erythrocephala

Putman, R. J. (1977). Dynamics of the blowfly, Calliphora erythrocephala, within carrion. /. Anim. Ecol. 46, 853-866. 

Figure 8. Planar structure of dieldrin and partial structures of some dieldrin analogs (each containing six chlorine atoms) referred to in the text. Table below gives toxicities for dechlorinated derivatives of dieldrin (see key in figure) to adult female blowflies, Calliphora erythrocephala. Similar superscripts indicate significant difference at 95%...

Epoxide rings of alkene and arene compounds are hydrated to form trans-diols. The enzymes that catalyze the addition of a molecule of water to an epoxide ring to yield diols are called epoxide hydrolases (also known as epoxide hydrases). Epoxide hydrolase activity has been detected in numerous species of insects. Enzymatic epoxide hydration of certain cyclodiene insecticides and their analogs has been demonstrated in the housefly, blowfly (Calliphora erythrocephala), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), southern army worm (Spodoptera eridania), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Epoxide hydrolase is also important in the metabolism of juvenile... 

Kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine are the precursors or chromogens of the pigments. One of them, xanthommatin, was obtained from the eyes of insects 7800 heads of Calliphora erythrocephala gave 19 mg of the pigment (B32). Xanthommatin was also isolated from the molting secretion of Vanessa urticae 10,000 butterflies yielded 100 mg of the substance (B30). 

The amounts of the two substances originally present in the urine were higher than those actually isolated. It must be emphasized, however, that tryptophan metabolites have rarely been extracted from urine when neither special diets nor supplementary tryptophan are used. Furthermore, urine of hemoblastotic patients can be considered, together with Calliphora erythrocephala pupae, as one of the rare natural sources of 3-hydroxykynurenine. 

Karlson and Hoffmeister first demonstrated the conversion of [ H]cholesterol to ecdysone in Calliphora erythrocephala. Subsequently, the conversion was reported in other species. Direct evidence for the secretion of ecdysone from prothoracic glands has been provided by in vitro culture of such organs in appropriate media. The incorporation of radioactive cholesterol into ecdysone by such glands has been reported for B. mori [190], Manduca sexta [191], and Leucophaea manderae [192]. 

Rapp, P.E. M.J. Berridge. 1981. The control of transepithelial potential oscillations in the salivary gland of Calliphora erythrocephala. J. Exp. BioL 93 119-32. 

Zimmermann U, Mehlan D, Peters W. Investigations on the transport fimction and stmcture of peritrophic membranes. 3. Periodic incorporation of glucose, methionine and cysteine into the peritrophic membranes of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala Mg. in vivo and in vitro. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 1973, 45,... 

The presence of gangliosides in crab eye stalks (Ishizuka et al. 1970, SvENNERHOLM 1970) appears uncertain (Wiegandt 1971), while the isolation of a haemagglutinin from a lobster yielded a sialic acid component (Acton et al. 1973). Analyses of several insects including Musca domestica, Calliphora erythrocephala (Wiegandt 1971), Drosophila melanogaster larval and adult forms and the eyes and ganglia of several other flies (unpublished) showed no sialic acids. 

The occurrence of gangliosides in the eye stalk of crab, Carcinus maenas (Wiegandt, 1968), could not yet be confirmed. No gangliosides could be found in the blow fly, Calliphora erythrocephala or the house fly, Musca domestica (Wiegandt, 1970). 

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