WONG, C. K.*; HOSHIZAKI, D. K.; GIBBS, A. G.; Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas: Energetics of Metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster

In preparation for metamorphosis, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster undergoes numerous physical reconstructions within the pupal case, suggesting an increase in energy consumption to sustain these changes. However, metabolic rates during pupation actually decline approximately eighty percent during the first twenty-four hours after pupariation, then rise steadily directly before eclosion at ninety-six hours. Thus, during a period of substantial physical transformation prior to metamorphosis, metabolic rates are remarkably low. We also investigated the possible energy substrates expended during pupation�primarily protein, carbohydrate, and triglyceride stores. A series of enzymatic digestion (for carbohydrate and triglyceride measurements) and dye attachment (for protein measurement) assays were utilized to measure the amount of substrate exhausted by the organism. Pupae metabolized a mixture of substrates, but the primary energy source was lipid. There was no indication of discontinuous gas-exchange cycles, in contrast to beetle and moth pupae. Supported by an NIH-BRIN Fellowship to CKW and NSF award IOB-0514402 to AGG.