Abstract
By means of agar gel electrophoresis esterase zymograms of extracts from various tisues, singulary of individual larvae, were compared using a number of silkworm strains. Six major bands moving toward the anode were found with β-naphythyl acetate as the substrate and naphthanil diazoblue B as coupler. The fastest migrating intense bands A and B were detected in the mid-gut, and the less mobile esterase C was present in the silk gland. Esterases (E, F) detected in tracheas completely corresponded to integument esterase types. This phenomenon suggests that esterase bands in the integment and tracheas may be controlled by the same genes. The bands detected for the esterases in the integument correspond with the slow migrating bands of the Malpighian tubules. No similarity was noted among the esterase patterns obtained for the blood, mid-gut and silk gland and those of the integument or tracheae.
