
%0 Journal Article
%A Hackman KN Saxen, RH 
%T Tyrosine Metabolism in Blowfly Larvae at Pupation
%J Australian Journal of Biological Sciences
%D 1964/09/01
%V 17
%N 3
%P 803-805
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/BI9640803
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/BI9640803 
%X In insects tyrosine has been regarded as participating in metabolic reactions which lead, not only to its incorporation in various proteins, but also to sclerotization of the cuticle (i.e. quinone cross-linking of cuticular protein). Three different meta-bolic pathways have been suggested, all of which lack direct evidence to support them. The suggested pathways are (i) oxidative deamination leading to the formation of o-quinones, (ii) non-specific hydroxylation and elimination of the side-chain leading to the formation of p-quinones, and (iii) conversion to N-acetyldopamine which is the phenolic precursor of the sclerotizing quinone. For a review of these theories see Pryor (1962) and Hackman (1964). 
