Rapid Isolation of Ecdysteroids from Crustacean Tissues and Culture Media Using Sep-Pak C18 Cartridges

Ecdysteroid hormones and metabolites of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria

The Y-organs of the xanthid crab Menippe mercenaria secrete the ecdysteroids, 3-dehydroecdysone (3DE) and lesser amounts of 3-dehydro (or 2-dehydro)-25-deoxyecdysone (3D25dE) in vitro. These ecdysteroids were identified by elution-time comparisons with authentic standards, mass spectrography, and, for 3D25dE, infrared spectrometry. Tissues were incubated 18 hr with [(3)H]3DE. Activities representing 3beta-reductase and 20-hydroxylase generally were present, evidenced by finding in the tissue/medium extract labeled ecdysone (E) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Labeled 3-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone (3D20E) also appeared to be present. Tissue blanks and hemolymph were devoid of activity. Muscle was low, hypodermis was intermediate, and hindgut and gonads were high in activity of the enzymes. Consistent with the presence of these enzymes in peripheral tissues, ecdysteroid products identified in the hemolymph were 20E, 3D20E, and 25-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (25d20E; ponasterone A). Structures of 20E and 3D20E were confirmed by co-elution with authentic standards in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), co-elution of derivatives in gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy. Ponasterone A (identified by HPLC co-elution with the standard), like 20E is present in the hemolymph in prominent amounts. These data indicate that Menippe, among crustaceans thus far studied, secretes a unique combination of ecdysteroid hormones, namely, a 3- (or 2-) oxo compound and a 25-deoxy compound. This represents a different kind of branch point from 5beta-diketol in ecdysteroid biosynthesis, in which the intermediate, 5beta-ketodiol is bypassed. A result is the joint appearance in the circulation of the hormones, 20E and ponasterone A, which in other species are singly prominent.

Biosynthesis of ecdysteroid hormones by crustacean Y-organs: conversion of cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol is suppressed by a steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor

A pair of glands (Y-organs) in crustaceans synthesize and secrete ecdysteroid hormones; the obligate precursor for synthesis is circulating cholesterol. Ecdysteroid output by the Y-organs is regulated negatively by an eyestalk neurosecretory peptide, molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH). The question was addressed, does MIH suppress ecdysteroid synthesis by decreasing cholesterol supply (uptake) or its utilization or both? Experiments were conducted with Y-organs in vitro from the crab, Menippe mercenaria, in the presence of labeled cholesterol, with or without the steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, L-645390 (Merck). Other experiments superimposed the presence or absence of eyestalk extract containing MIH activity. L-645390 greatly depressed incorporation of cholesterol into an early intermediate, 7-dehydrocholesterol and into secreted ecdysteroids. At the same time, cholesterol accumulated in the Y-organs, to levels significantly higher than in untreated controls. MIH alone depressed both cholesterol uptake and incorporation. MIH together with L-645390 produced the greatest depression of cholesterol incorporation while also preventing the cholesterol accumulation seen with L-645390 alone. These results indicate that cholesterol uptake and its metabolic utilization in Y-organs are separable events representing separate sites of regulation by MIH.

Formation of ecdysteroids by Y-organs of the crab, Menippe mercenaria. II. Incorporation of cholesterol into 7-dehydrocholesterol and secretion products in vitro

The conversion in vitro of cholesterol (Ch) to nonpolar metabolites and ecdysteroids was studied in Y-organs of the xanthid crab, Menippe mercenaria. In one set of experiments, Y-organs were prelabeled in vivo by injecting crabs with 100 microCi of [3H]Ch, and halved glands were then incubated for 24 and 48 hr in the presence of unlabeled Ch. In another set, unlabeled Y-organs were incubated in standard medium containing 10 microCi/ml of [3H]Ch. Both polar and nonpolar metabolites were surveyed by HPLC. The early metabolite, 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-dhCh), was the only labeled derivative of Ch detectable in Y-organ tissue after incubation; preincubation amounts of 7-dhCh were higher in glands from de-eyestalked crabs vs glands from intact crabs, and labeling was an order of magnitude higher in glands incubated with labeled Ch vs those prelabeled in vivo. Specific activity calculations indicate highly efficient conversion of 7-dhCh to ecdysteroid secretions. Analyses of the incubation media revealed two polar secretory products, synthesized from Ch in vitro. These coeluted with the authentic standards, 3-dehydroecdysone and 25-deoxyecdysone. Secretion of 3-dehydroecdysone always exceeded that of 25-deoxyecdysone (ratio range, 1.9 to 14.4), in both de-eyestalked and intact crabs.

Formation of ecdysteroids by Y-organs of the crab, Menippe mercenaria. I. Biosynthesis of 7-dehydrocholesterol in vivo

Y-organs of the xanthid crab, Menippe mercenaria, secrete ecdysteroid hormones in vitro, apparently both 3-dehydroecdysone and 25-deoxyecdysone. Studies were initiated on the biosynthetic path(s), in which cholesterol is converted to these ecdysteroids. Crabs were injected with [3H]cholesterol. Y-organs and hemolymph were removed 12 hr later and extracted directly and the extracts were analyzed by HPLC. Both polar and nonpolar sterols were surveyed. The only metabolite of cholesterol detectable in Y-organs was 7-dehydrocholesterol (identified by mass spectrometry). The total amount of 7-dehydrocholesterol and the amount that was labeled were generally greater than for cholesterol and were higher in Y-organs from de-eyestalked crabs than in those from intact crabs. Subcellular fractionation of the Y-organs showed that over 70% of total radioactivity was in cholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol of mitochondria and microsomes, distributed about equally between the two organellar fractions. In hemolymph, the only nonpolar sterols present were cholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol; the concentration ratio was 20:1. However, 7-dehydrocholesterol was not significantly labeled. Analyses of polar compounds revealed two prominent, uv-absorbing ecdysteroids which coeluted with the authentic standards, 3-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone and 25-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (ponasterone A). The radioactivity profile showed, in addition, a third prominent peak that corresponded in retention time with 3-dehydroecdysone. These results indicate that the Y-organs in vivo form 7-dehydrocholesterol from cholesterol and convert the latter to secretion products without accumulation of other intermediates. At least two ecdysteroids are secreted and appear to be converted peripherally in this crab to their respective 20-hydroxy derivatives.

Evidence that Y-organs of the crab Cancer antennarius secrete 3-dehydroecdysone

Y-organs are paired glands in crustaceans that secrete a class of steroid hormones (ecdysteroids) that regulate growth, molting and development. The glandular secretion has been assumed to be solely the ecdysteroid, ecdysone, a polyhydroxylated derivative of cholesterol. We previously reported that Y-organs of a crab (Cancer antennarius) additionally secreted an ecdysteroid that is less polar than ecdysone. Evidence is presented here that the other secretion product is 3-dehydroecdysone (3-dhE). The compound co-chromatographed with authentic 3-dhE in both normal-phase, and reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry of the ecdysteroid gave results consistent with its identity as 3-dhE. The putative 3-dhE was radiolabeled by injecting crabs with [3H]cholesterol and then incubating the Y-organs. The putative [3H]3-dhE secretion was then subjected to chemical reduction. The reaction yielded labeled products that co-chromatographed with authentic ecdysone and 3-epiecdysone. Results of other experiments gave the following results: (1) Putative 3-dhE was not altered (chromatographic criteria) by incubations with snail hydrolases. (2) Putative [3H]3-dhE, added to incubations of Y-organ halves or homogenates, was not significantly converted to ecdysone; also, no conversion was evident after incubation in medium alone in which the hemolymph serum supplement was raised to 50% of the volume. (3) [3H]Ecdysone was not converted to putative 3-dhE in vitro by Y-organ halves or homogenates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biosynthesis of ecdysteroids from cholesterol by crab Y-organs, and eyestalk suppression of cholesterol uptake and secretory activity, in vitro

Precursor incorporation studies were conducted in vitro with activated Y-organs from 48-hr de-eyestalked Cancer antennarius donors. When the glands were prelabeled in vivo by systemic injection of [3H]cholesterol 12 hr prior to removal, and subsequently incubated 24 hr in label-free medium, the glands secreted 3H-labeled ecdysone. The glands also secreted an unidentified ecdysteroid with comigrating 3H-label with characteristic retention time on normal-phase HPLC of 4 min (4-min unknown). The compound is less polar, and is secreted in a quantity and apparent specific activity approximately fivefold greater, than ecdysone. Compared with chromatographic retention times and competitive binding curves of authentic standards, the 4-min unknown was determined not to be ponasterone A, inokosterone, makisterone, or several other possible products or intermediates. In contrast with Y-organs from intact donors, those from de-eyestalked crabs exhibit greatly increased cholesterol uptake and secretion of both ecdysone and 4-min unknown in vitro. All three responses were suppressed in dose-dependent manner by eyestalk extract in the dose range, 1-4 eyestalk equivalents/Y-organ. Secretion of 4-min unknown was the response most sensitive to eyestalk extract (requiring the least dose for 50% inhibition).

Effects of eyestalk removal on cholesterol uptake and ecdysone secretion by crab (Cancer antennarius) Y-organs in vitro

Y-Organs and control tissues from intact (intermolt) and 48-hr de-eyestalked Cancer antennarius donors were cultured for 12 and 24 hr in crustacean saline supplemented 10% with crab serum and containing [14C]cholesterol. Under these conditions, Y-organs took up significantly more [14C]cholesterol than ovary or muscle, and Y-organs from 48-hr de-eyestalked crabs took up threefold more than Y-organs from intact crabs. The labeled cholesterol of the culture medium was observed to bind rapidly to the lipoproteins of the serum supplement; subcellular fractionation of the activated Y-organs after incubation showed 59% of the label localized in the cytosolic fraction. The increase in cholesterol uptake did not result from a change in extracellular volume, and was not accompanied by a change in Y-organ total cholesterol. It was, however, accompanied by a greater than threefold increase in ecdysone secretion.

Ecdysteroid metabolism in a crab: Carcinus maenas L

Ponasterone A (25-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone) and 20-hydroxyecdysone were the major ecdysteroids detected in crab hemolymph, although some ecdysone was also present. The metabolism of ponasterone A was examined in intermolt and premolt crabs either by injecting the radiolabeled hormone or by incubating tissues in its presence. Metabolites were extracted from the surrounding seawater and from tissues and separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ponasterone A metabolism proceeds through (1) C-25 and C-26 hydroxylation, followed by formation of inactivation products via oxidation of the terminal alcoholic group to a carboxylic residue, (2) conjugation, (3) "binding" to very polar compounds and (4) side-chain scission. The conversion of ponasterone A into 20-hydroxyecdysone, inokosterone (25-deoxy-20, 26-dihydroxyecdysone), 20, 26-dihydroxyecdysone and ecdysonoic acids, as well as the formation of conjugates and of very polar compounds, occurs in various tissues. These metabolites were excreted by both intermolt and premolt crabs.