9318247 Jones This research is aimed at determining the molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of development of a larval caterpillar form into the winged, adult moth. The maintenance of a larval form, and the suppression of adult form, is due to the maintenance of a high titer of juvenile hormone during the larval stage. The molecular mechanism by which a high titer of juvenile hormone causes suppression of genes associated with the adult form is not well understood. It is the objective of the present grant research to determine the mechanisms, using as a model system the suppression of expression of hexamerin genes by juvenile hormone. In this proposed research, we will analyze the regulatory promoter DNA associated with the hexamerin genes for the presence of proteins that bind to the DNA in a JH- sensitive manner. By various tests, including gel mobility shift analysis, DNA footprinting and cell transfection assay with wild type and mutant sequences, we will narrow down to and identify the particular DNA bases to which the regulatory proteins bind. ***
