Study of the RNA-degrading activities during the development of the insect Ceratitis capitata

1. Three different RNA-degrading activities have been characterized in the insect C. capitata. Two of them are non dependent on divalent cations and show acid and alkaline optimum pH values respectively. For the third one, the maximum activity is observed at pH 8.5, being this enzyme inhibited by EDTA. 2. Distribution of the enzyme levels during the development of the insect is reported. Results are interpreted in terms of the functional role of these enzymes.