Juvenile Hormone Action Mediated in Male Accessory Glands of <i>Drosophila</i> by Calcium and Kinase C

Abstract

In an in vitro system for the Drosophila melanogaster male accessory gland, it was found that 10(-9)M juvenile hormone III could accurately mimic the copulation-induced response of increased protein synthesis in glands from virgin flies. Stimulation by this hormone required calcium in the medium. Experiments with tumor-promoting phorbol esters indicated that activation of protein kinase C can also cause the glands to increase protein synthesis. Stimulation of protein synthesis by juvenile hormone did not occur in mutants deficient in kinase C activity. These results suggest a membrane-protein-mediated effect of juvenile hormone that involves calcium and kinase C.