Enzymes involved in oxygen detoxification during development of Drosophila melanogaster.

Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidases (PER) were examined at 24-h intervals during Drosophila development. SOD activities show a U-shaped curve from egg to adult stages whereas CAT and PER are consistently low in egg through larval stages. Male and female larvae have similar activities of SOD, CAT, and PER whereas male adults have elevated activities of these enzymes. Larvae are more sensitive to H2O2 and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (an inhibitor of CAT) than adults.