Required for CNS development; midline glial cells. Involved in the metabolism of insect hormones; responsible for all ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity during embryonic, larval and adult stages. May be involved in the breakdown of synthetic insecticides. AH2 + ecdysone + O2 = 20-hydroxyecdysone + A + H2O Steroid biosynthesis; ecdysteroid biosynthesis. Strong expression by embryonic stage 10 in epidermis, decreases significantly in older embryos. Third instar larvae show expression in the midgut copper cells, Malpighian tubules and fat body. In the adult ovaries, expression is seen in both nurse cells and centripetally migrating follicle cells. Member of the Halloween gene group. Belongs to the cytochrome P450 family.