Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in the benzo[a]pyrene-sensitive mutant strain of Drosophila simulans

Conserved regulatory elements in the promoters of two allelochemical-inducible cytochrome P450 genes differentially regulate transcription

“…In particular, cytochrome P450 activities in Spodoptera eridania, the southern armyworm, are induced by pentamethylbenzene, naphthalene and polychlorinated cyclic biphenyls (PCBs) (Anderson, 1978;Chang et al, 1983) but not by dioxin (Denison et al, 1985). Cytochrome P450 activities are also induced by benzo(a)pyrene in a mutant strain of Drosophila simulans that is susceptible to the toxic effects of benzo(a)pyrene but not in the wildtype strain that is resistant to benzo(a)pyrene (Fuchs et al, 1992). Our ability to activate expression of insect CYP6B promoters with benzo(a)pyrene in insect cells derived from another lepidopteran species provides us with the potential to biochemically dissect the receptors and transcriptional activators for the insect aryl hydrocarbon cascade.…”

Regulation of an insect cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene (CYP6B1) by aryl hydrocarbon and xanthotoxin response cascades

“…of the aryl hydrocarbons pentamethylbenzene and naphthalene induced benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation in Spodoptera eridania (southern armyworm) larval midguts (Chang et al, 1983). A mutant strain of Drosophila simulans susceptible to the toxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene also shows benzo[a]pyrene inducing P450 activities that increase conversion of benzo[a]pyrene to more toxic dihydrodiol derivatives (Fuchs et al, 1992).…”