Dolichol levels during development and ageing of Drosophila melanogaster.

1. Dolichol levels in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster were determined at the larva and pupa stages and in 1, 10, 20 and 30-day-old flies. 2. Free dolichol increased from 1.2 micrograms/g wet weight in the larvae to 14.9 micrograms/g in 30-day-old flies, while total dolichol increased from 3.4 micrograms/g in the larvae to 21.2 micrograms/g at 30-days-old. 3. Dolichol released after saponification is primarily from dolichyl fatty acid ester, which accounts for up to 65% of the total dolichol. 4. The major dolichol homologs, which remain relatively constant throughout development and ageing in D. melanogaster, are C-80, C-85 and C-90, which represent approximately 7%, 60% and 33%, respectively.