Pyridoxine and tryptophane metabolism in rice moth larvae (Corcyra cephalonica St.)

Abstract

A yellow-colored compound is excreted by rice moth larvae, when they were fed pyridoxine-deficient diets containing tryptophane. The yellow color disappeared from the excreta either on the inclusion of pyridoxine in the diet or on the transference of the larvae to a pyridoxine-rich diet. Of the 7 amino acids examined, only tryptophane gave rise to the yellow-colored excreta. The pigment is soluble in water, adsorbed on fuller's earth, but does not turn green with ferric ammonium sulphate at neutral pH. The compound in question may, therefore, be different from xanthurenic acid.