Identification of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin in Drosophila melanogaster.

Summary Using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection we have demonstrated the occurrence of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin in Drosophila melanogaster . The former is the first time that has been detected in vivo . The identification has been based on the retention times, hydrodinamic voltagrams and the differential concentration in three strains of Drosophila melanogaster . Compared to the wild type, the Punch 2 mutant has diminished levels of both pteridines, whereas Henna-recessive 3 lacks completely tetrahydropterin and has increased levels of tetrahydrobiopterin, as expected according to their biochemical lesions.