COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON
AMPHIBIAN AND INVERTEBRATE DEVELOPMENT
E N R I C O U R B A N I
Department of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy,
University of Camerino, Italy
I. Introduction
61
IT. Embryonic Development and Metamorphosis of Amphibians
63
A. Proteolytic Enzymes
67
B. Ribonucleic Acid and Phosphatases
76
C. Amylases
79
D. Lipases
82
E. Energy Sources
84
III. Biochemical Considerations on the Development of Some Invertebrates
91
A. Artemia salina Leach
92
B. Bombyx mori L
94
C. Musca domestica L
96
IV. Results and Conclusions
97
References
102
I. Introduction
Embryological processes are the basis and the starting point of the
acquisition of species specificity: organisms, as they develop, are
subject to continuous changes, due to the destructive and constructive
processes which affect cells, tissues and organs, both contributing to the
attainment of morphological structure. Thus morphogenesis, growth and
differentiation result from the work of the enzymes which maintain and
renew the protoplasm. Enzymological methods and techniques, when
applied to the embryonic development of vertebrates and invertebrates,
enable us to investigate the different stages of the ontogenetic process:
in interpreting the findings, however, it must not be forgotten that a
given enzymatic pattern can only be evaluated correctly if related to the
morphological and functional significance of the different developmental
stages, to the accompanying ecological conditions and to the position
of the species within zoological taxonomy.
Studies on the activity displayed by some enzymes during embryonic
and larval development and metamorphosis of the Anura are reviewed
with particular reference to the results obtained in our own laboratory.
Particular attention has been given to the activity of intracellular
proteases: dipeptidases have been differentiated therefore from triC2
61
A.M. 2
AMPHIBIAN AND INVERTEBRATE DEVELOPMENT
E N R I C O U R B A N I
Department of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy,
University of Camerino, Italy
I. Introduction
61
IT. Embryonic Development and Metamorphosis of Amphibians
63
A. Proteolytic Enzymes
67
B. Ribonucleic Acid and Phosphatases
76
C. Amylases
79
D. Lipases
82
E. Energy Sources
84
III. Biochemical Considerations on the Development of Some Invertebrates
91
A. Artemia salina Leach
92
B. Bombyx mori L
94
C. Musca domestica L
96
IV. Results and Conclusions
97
References
102
I. Introduction
Embryological processes are the basis and the starting point of the
acquisition of species specificity: organisms, as they develop, are
subject to continuous changes, due to the destructive and constructive
processes which affect cells, tissues and organs, both contributing to the
attainment of morphological structure. Thus morphogenesis, growth and
differentiation result from the work of the enzymes which maintain and
renew the protoplasm. Enzymological methods and techniques, when
applied to the embryonic development of vertebrates and invertebrates,
enable us to investigate the different stages of the ontogenetic process:
in interpreting the findings, however, it must not be forgotten that a
given enzymatic pattern can only be evaluated correctly if related to the
morphological and functional significance of the different developmental
stages, to the accompanying ecological conditions and to the position
of the species within zoological taxonomy.
Studies on the activity displayed by some enzymes during embryonic
and larval development and metamorphosis of the Anura are reviewed
with particular reference to the results obtained in our own laboratory.
Particular attention has been given to the activity of intracellular
proteases: dipeptidases have been differentiated therefore from triC2
61
A.M. 2