Changes in the Acid-Soluble Nucleotides during the Pupal Development of the Rice Stem Borer, Chilo suppressalis WALKER (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)

The acid-soluble nucleotides of pupae of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, were fractionated by anion-exchange chromtography. Adenosine diphosphate, ATP, CTP, GDP, GTP, UDP, UTP, and UDP-sugar(s) were isolated and identified from the pupae at all stages. The ATP and ADP contents are almost constant during the early half of the pupal stage, but rapidly increase from the middle stage to adult emergence. The ratio of ATP to ADP tends to decrease through pupal period. UDP-suger(s) level becomes maximum on the second day after pupation, then decreases conspicuously to adult emergence. The other nucleotide levels fluctuate with pupal development. These changes of the nucleotide level are discussed in relation to some aspects of metamorphosis.