zooecdysone

Zooecdysone, also known as ecdysone, is a steroid hormone crucial for molting in arthropods, including insects and crustaceans. It is derived from cholesterol, which insects must obtain from their diet as they cannot synthesize it themselves. Ecdysone directly influences the synthesis of RNA, which in turn controls protein synthesis within cells.1

The process of molting, or ecdysis, involves shedding the exoskeleton to allow for growth and changes in body form. Ecdysone plays a key role in this process, working alongside juvenile hormone, which regulates the retention of juvenile characteristics during larval stages. A decrease in juvenile hormone levels signals the transition to adult forms.21