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Ecdysone is a steroid compound that functions as a molting hormone in arthropods, particularly insects and crustaceans. It is crucial for regulating the process of ecdysis, which is the shedding of the exoskeleton to allow for growth or changes in body form. In insects, ecdysone is produced by the prothoracic glands and, after conversion to its active form (20-hydroxyecdysone), triggers the epidermis to produce a new cuticle. The levels and presence of ecdysone, along with juvenile hormone, dictate whether a molt results in a juvenile stage or leads to metamorphosis into an adult. Ecdysones can also be found in plants, sometimes as analogs.123456

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