The rate of substrate cycling between glucose and glucose 6-phosphate in muscle and fat-body of the hawk moth (Acherontia atropos) at rest and during flight

1. The rate of substrate cycling between glucose and glucose 6-phosphate was measured in tissues of the hawk moth (Acherontia atropos). 2. The insect was injected with [2-3H,2-14C]glucose, and after periods of time at rest or flying the animal was freeze-clamped. Separation of glucose and hexose monophosphate from the tissues was performed by paper chromatography and t.l.c., and the 3H and 14C radioactivities in these compounds were measured. 3. On the basis of the 3H/14C ratios in these compounds and the measured rate of glycolysis, the rate of cycling was calculated. The rates of cycling were 0.03, 0.10, 0.06 and 3.9 mumol/min per g for fat-body at rest and during flight and for flight muscle at rest and during flight respectively. 4. The marked increase in the cycling rate between glucose and glucose 6-phosphate upon flight contrasts with the finding of Clark, Bloxham, Holland & Lardy [(1973) Biochem. J. 134, 589-597] in the bumble-bee, in which this condition inhibited cycling. It is suggested that the increased rate of cycling increases the sensitivity of glucose phosphorylation to changes in the concentrations of effectors of hexokinase should it be necessary to increase the rate of glycolysis in muscle, for example, to increase power output of the flight muscle for increased speed of flight.