The developmental profile of paramyosin and other myofibrillar proteins of larval and imaginal thoracic muscles of Lepidoptera

The synthesis of paramyosin and other myofibrillar proteins of the thoracic muscles of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta was studied by immunological and electrophoretical methods during the histolysis of the larval thoracic muscles and the differentiation of the indirect flight muscles. Antigens of the myofibrillar proteins in the thoracic muscles of the last-larval stage cross reacted with those in the flight muscles of the adults against polyspecific antibodies from actomyosin and monospecific antibodies from paramyosin. After the breakdown of the larval thoracic muscles (2 days from larval-pupal ecdysis) these antigens can no longer be detected in the thorax. The results indicate an almost complete removal of the larval thoracic muscles. Paramyosin could be identified again in a homogenate of the thoracic muscles of animals on the 13th day from larval-pupal ecdysis. Paramyosin is the first protein found during the differentiation of the flight muscles. The other myofibrillar proteins could be identified in thoracic homogenates of pharate adults of Manduca sexta on the 14th and 15th day from larval-pupal ecdysis. On the 14th day from larval-pupal ecdysis the dorso-longitudinal muscle and the tergosternal muscles show cross-striation, and the appearance of most of the electrophoretical results are in accordance with immunological and morphological findings. The myofibrillar proteins of the indirect flight muscles of Manduca sexta are synthesized de novo during metamorphosis.