Cuticular Biochemistry: Lambda-Cyhalothrin Induced Alterations in Mutant Drosophila melanogaster

Derivatives of natural pyrethrum, synthetic pyrethroids, are well-established neurotoxins. However, they do interfere with the functioning of metabolic processes; the most important of these is chitin metabolism, a key process in the development of insects. Type II synthetic pyrethroid, lambda-cyhalothrin, when orally fed to Drosophila melanogaster revealed its efficacy in chitin synthesis modulation. Total proteins, glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, chitinase activity and chitin content exhibit significant changes in the final developmental stage, the adults. A reduction in chitin synthesis is suggestive of interference in polymerization process which is a must for cuticle formation. Involvement of lambda-cyhalothrin in chitin synthesis has been sought to be an additional mode of action, other than its neurotoxic nature.