Ecdysteroids inactivation

Williams DR, Fisher MJ, Rees HH. Characterization of ecdysteroid 26-hydroxy-lase An enzyme involved in molting hormone inactivation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2000 376 389-98. 

The fact that 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone was less active than ecdysone suggests that it was an inactivation product and that we could expect an increase in the quantity of this compound at a later period of pupal-adult development. Indeed, 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone was the major ecdysteroid during pupal-adult development five days after peak titer of MH activity, followed by lesser amounts of 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone. 

---