ARUNDHATI CHOUDHURY, JYOTI REKHA SAIKIA AND BALA GOPALAN UNNI
Abstract
Fluctuations in activity of the enzymes trehalase (E.C.3.2.1.28), and phosphorylase (E.0 2.4.1.1), as well as changes in the level of trehalose, glucose and glycogen were studied in different developmental stages of the two non- mulberry silkworms, Antheraea assama Westwood and Philosamia ricini Boisduval. Significant variations in enzyme activities and metabolite levels occurred between the two silkworms. Higher enzyme activity or higher metabolite concentration throughout the entire examined stages of either silkworm was not observed. In fact the enzyme activity/ metabolite level dominated in A. assama at certain stages and in P. ricini in others. The variations in the protein profile of the pupal haernolymph of both species during development are presented.