The composition of cuticular hydrocarbons of the khapra beetles,trogoderma granarium

• 1.1. The cuticular and internal hydrocarbons of the khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium were studied by capillary column gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. n-Alkanes, 3-methyl-, 5-methyl-, 11-methyl-, 12-methyl-, 13-methyl-, 14-methyl- and 15-methylalkanes were found in the cuticular and internal lipids.
• 2.2. Some quantitative differences of the compositions were estimated for cuticular and internal hydrocarbons.
• 3.3. The n-alkanes in the samples are mostly odd chain lengths from 23 to 33 carbon atoms. In turn, the branched hydrocarbons consist of even carbon numbers ranging from C₂₆ to C₃₂, but the branching points are situated on the odd carbon numbers.
• 4.4. There are similarities in the n-alkanes patterns extracted from khapra beetle and wheat grains, the latter of which are the natural nutrition of this pest.

     

Cuticular hydrocarbons,social organization and ovarian development in a polistine wasp: Polistes dominulus christ

• 1.1. The cuticular hydrocarbons of the wasp, Polistes dominulus, are linear branched, saturated alkanes, mainly monomethylalkanes.
• 2.2. The foundress can be distinguished from her offspring by differences in the relative proportions of some alkanes and monomethylalkanes, which were the same in all the foundresses studied here. The ovarian state is linked to the cuticular spectrum since these constituents were present in similar proportions in a foundress and in a descendant with comparably developed ovaries.
• 3.3. In some, but not all cases, it was possible to discriminate between descendants originating from different foundresses on the basis of other hydrocarbons belonging to all the chemical families present.
• 4.4. No correlations were observed between the descendants' behavioural profiles and the cuticular hydrocarbon spectra.

     

Characterization and discrimination of three Rhopalosiphum species (Homoptera: aphididae) using cuticular hydrocarbons and cuticular surface patterns

• 1.1. Cuticular hydrocarbons of two clones of Rhopalosiphum maidis, two of R. padi, one of R. insertum, and one of Schizaphis graminum were identified as n-alkanes, monomethylalkanes and dimethylalkanes.
• 2.2. No qualitative differences in hydrocarbon content were apparent among the six aphid populations studied; however, hydrocarbon profiles were discriminatory.
• 3.3. Discriminant analysis of the proportions of the cuticular hydrocarbons selected 29 hydrocarbon components that provided discrimination among populations except for the two R. padi clones which were indistinguishable.
• 4.4. Scanning electron micrographs showed very clear differences in the cuticular surface patterns among the three Rhopalosiphum species.

     

Regional variation in cuticular hydrocarbon composition in the common house cricket,Acheta domesticus

• 1.1. The hydrocarbon composition of different cuticular regions (pronotum, legs, abdominal tergites and sternites, pleural membrane) was determined for adult female crickets (Acheta domesticus).
• 2.2. Hydrocarbon groups included n-alkanes, 2-methylalkanes, long-chain internally branched monomethyl- and dimethyalkanes, n-alkenes, 2-methylalkenes and alkadienes.
• 3.3. Saturated hydrocarbons were more abundant than unsaturated hydrocarbons and branched saturates more abundant than n-alkanes in all regions of the cuticle examined.
• 4.4. Except for a higher percentage of n-alkanes in the pleural membrane (soft cuticle), little difference was noted in compositional patterns or relative amounts of individual molecules from the different cuticular regions.

     

Comparative analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons in the Drosophila virilis species group

• 1.1. Chemical structures were determined for the cuticular alkanes, alkenes, and certain of the alkadienes for 11 D. virilis group species.
• 2.2. Male-specific hydrocarbons occurred in five species: these were 9-heneicosene in D. americana and D. novamexicana, 10-heneicosene in D. virilis, 5,13- and 5,15-pentacosadienes in D. kanekoi, and 9-pentacosene in one strain of D. lummei.
• 3.3. Hydrocarbon profiles of newly emerged flies always differed from mature files.
• 4.4. Relationships among the species, with respect to hydrocarbon profiles, were investigated by cluster analysis.

     

Cuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila virilis: Comparison by age and sex

The cuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila virilis were isolated and identified by TLC, GC, HPLC, GC-MS and ozonolysis-GC techniques. The major classes of hydrocarbons in both sexes were 2-methylalkanes, (Z)-11- and (Z)-13-alkenes, and a mixture of n-(Z,Z)-alkadienes. The key isolation step for the alkadienes was high pressure liquid chromatography on a silver nitrate impregnated silica column. The silver nitrate-silica column afforded separation of the alkadienes based primarily on number of carbons between the double bonds. The most abundant alkadienes had double bonds separated by six methylene units, but alkadienes with 2, 8, 10 and 12 methylenes between double bonds were also present.The cuticular hydrocarbons of adult D. virilis changed dramatically in quantity and composition between eclosion and 8 days of age:

• 1.1. The quantity of total hydrocarbons of flies of both sexes increased by 3-fold between the ages of 0 and 4 days. Between 4 and 8 days of age, the quantity on females remained unchanged, but on males there was an additional 2-fold increase in quantity of total hydrocarbons.
• 2.2. With increased age the average chain length of the hydrocarbons decreased.
• 3.3. (Z)-10-Heneicosene, exclusively from male flies, was absent at eclosion, started to appear at about 4 days of age, and amounted to over half of the total hydrocarbons on 8-day-old male flies.
• 4.4. Although no differences in (Z)-11-pentacosene between sexes were observed at 4 days old, (Z)-11-pentacosene on 8-day-old females was nearly 3 times more abundant than on 8-day-old males.

     

Seasonal changes in condition and lipids composition of the bivalve Macoma balthica L. from the gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic)

• 1.1. The total lipids content and composition of lipid classes, their per cent in dry wt of soft tissues and level in standard animal, as well as composition of fatty acids and sterols were studied in Macoma balthica collected from three sites in the Gulf of Gdańsk, in the years, 1983–1984.
• 2.2. The increase in the content of total lipids, triacylglycerols, oleopalmitic, 16:1 and eicosapentaenoic acids, 20:5, C27 sterols (mainly cholest-5en-3β-ol), in spring and early summer and their decrease in autumn and winter were observed.
• 3.3. Content of phospholipids, sterols and hydrocarbons in the tissue dry wt of Macoma balthica remained nearly constant.

     

Comparative study on the fatty acid and lipid composition of four marine fish larvae

• 1.1. Fatty acid and lipid class composition were determined in larvae of four marine species: Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), cod (Gadus morhua) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) at hatching and prior to first feeding.
• 2.2. Total fatty acid content decreased in the four species with up to 50% reduction in one of the halibut groups. Docosahexanaoic acid (22:6 n-3) was especially utilized.
• 3.3. Low lipid utilization was found in turbot in relation to the other three species.
• 4.4. Water environmental temperature may explain some of the differences in the fatty acid utilization and the source of metabolic energy between cold water species (halibut, cod, and plaice) and temperate species (turbot), in the period from hatching to prior to first feeding.
• 5.5. Relative amounts of neutral lipids and phospholipids were similar in plaice, cod and halibut, approximately 25% and 75% of total lipids, respectively, and were approximately constant during the yolk-sac stage. Neutral lipids were dominant for turbot at hatching, accounting for 53–55% of the total lipids, while phospholipids predominated prior to first feeding, being 56–59%.
• 6.6. Phosphatidylcholine was catabolized in halibut, plaice and cod but not in turbot, while phosphatidylethanolamine tended to be synthesized in all four species.

     

Comparative study of the endemic freshwater fauna of lake baikal—I. Phospholipid and fatty acid composition of two mollusc species,Baicalia oviformus and Benedictia baicalensis

• 1.1. Lipid and phospholipid compositions of endemic freshwater molluscs belonging to the class Gastropoda, Baicalia oviformus and Benedictia baicalensis, were studied.
• 2.2. The fatty acids composition of total lipids, neutral, glyco- and phospholipid fraction was investigated by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
• 3.3. Ninety-five fatty acids were identified: 23 saturated (both iso- and anteiso-), 28 monoenoic, 14 dienoic and 30 polyenoic.
• 4.4. High percentage of the two main acids, 18:4 and 18:4(n-3) in phospholipid and glycolipid fractions were identified.
• 5.5. A number of unusual polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as 19:4, 18:5(n-3), 24:4(n-6), 24:5(n-6), 24:6(n-3), and furanoid acids, were found.

     

Seasonal variation in the energy metabolism in an estuarine crab,Chasmagnathus granulata (Dana, 1851)

• 1.1. The effects of seasonal variation on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of the Chasmagnathus granulata were investigated.
• 2.2. Glycemia is high in winter and summer and low in spring and fall.
• 3.3. The glycogen content in the hepatopancreas and muscle is higher in fall and winter, and decreases during spring and summer.
• 4.4. The muscle lipids are higher in summer, and decrease during fall and winter whereas hepatopancreas lipids are higher except in the fall.
• 5.5. The crabs show change in the metabolic pattern of lipids and carbohydrates during the seasons of the year.

     

Lipid components and utilization in consumers of a seagrass community: An indication of carbon source

• 1.1. The lipid components of three animals, the rock crab Nectocarcinus integrifons, the rock flathead Platycephalus laevigatus and the southern garfish Hyporhamphus melanochir, feeding in the seagrass beds at Corner Inlet, Victoria, Australia have been examined in detail in order to provide further information on seagrass community structure.
• 2.2. Biological marker compounds detected within animal gut content material were used to recognize dietary sources and then utilized by community members.
• 3.3. Both H. melanochir and N. integrifons have been shown to ingest and to varying degrees incorporate seagrass lipid material, thus further confirming the importance of seagrass carbon in the Corner Inlet environment.
• 4.4. The southern sea garfish H. melanochir is observed to remove C₁₈ PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) from ingested seagrass material.
• 5.5. Seagrass sterols are altered during incorporation into the lipids of this fish.
• 6.6. Lipid-rich digestive juices play a role in the digestive processes of all three animals.
• 7.7. Components tentatively identified as (NMI) (non-methylene interrupted) fatty acids have been detected in the lipids of the garfish H. melanochir and the crab N. integrifons.
• 8.8. The fecal material of all three animals represent possible sources of these lipids (NMI acids) in Corner Inlet sediments.
• 9.9. Based on lipid compositional data, N. integrifons feeds on Posidonia australis detritus and associated epiphyte material.
• 10.10. The removal of both plant and epibiota cellular lipids along the digestive tract of the crab was observed, although structural components such as long chain mono- and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, which have been previously recognized as seagrass marker lipids are not directly absorbed.

     

Changes of the fatty acid composition in smolts of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), associated with desmoltification and sea-water transfer

• 1.1. Tissue lipid compositions of desmoltified yearlings of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) obtained by keeping smoltified fish in fresh water, were examined and compared to those of smoltified fish before and after transfer to sea-water (SW).
• 2.2. Lipid contents of muscle, liver, gut and gills of desmolts tended to increase compared to those of initial smolts.
• 3.3. The increased proportion of triacylglycerol (TG) and decreased proportion of phospholipids (PL) characterized the tissue lipids of desmolts.
• 4.4. Liver and muscle lipids showed no distinct differences both in content and proportion between initial and SW smolts, but gut and gill lipids of SW smolts decreased in content accompanied by a decrease of TG and an increase of PL in proportion.
• 5.5. Excepting muscle non-polar lipids, tissue lipids of desmolts contained more mono-unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids and less polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially (n-3) PUFA such as 22:6(n-3), than those of initial and SW smolts.
• 6.6. No large differences in fatty acid composition were seen between initial and SW smolts except for the gut.
• 7.7. The proportion of (n-3) PUFA in the gut of SW smolts was higher than that of initial smolts.
• 8.8. The results indicated that masu salmon smolts can modify their lipid metabolism to adapt to ambient salinity changes. The proportion of (n-3) PUFA particularly in polar lipids, or in osmoregulatory organs such as gut and gills, was seen to be critical in lipid types of freshwater- or sea-water-adapted fish.

     

Entomopathogenic fungal infection (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) affects water relations of the german cockroach,Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

• 1.1. The total body water, lipid content, and cuticular permeability of fungus infected and uninfected German cockroaches, Blattella germanica, were examined.
• 2.2. Infected adult cockroaches weighed less and had significantly more body water than did uninfected specimens of the same size.
• 3.3. Uninfected medium-size nymphs weighed significantly more than infected nymphs, but there was no difference in body size between infected and uninfected small nymphs.
• 4.4. Cuticular permeability and lipid content of infected and uninfected cockroaches was not significantly different.
• 5.5. Sequestering of water by the fungal cells is discussed as a possible factor in the pathology of this fungal parasite.

     

Larval Musca domestica lipophorin biosynthesis

• 1.1. Larval Musca domestica lipophorin biosynthesis was studied in vitro.
• 2.2. The newly synthesized lipophorin has a density a little lower than the circulating lipophorin after 1 hr of incubation. After 3 hr of incubation the fat body cells transfer lipids to the lipophorin that attains the density of circulating lipophorin.
• 3.3. The lipophorin synthesized in vitro is identical to circulating lipophorin in density and in electrophoretical behavior.
• 4.4. However these two molecules must have differences since the circulating lipophorin transfers lipids to fat body cells while the synthesized in vitro does not.
• 5.5. The biosynthesis of Musca lipophorin shows differences with the Manduca sexta lipophorin biosynthesis.

     

Characterization of Colorado potato beetle lipophorin: A hydrocarbon-rich diacylgycerol-poor lipophorin

• 1.1. The lipid composition of lipophorin from the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, was analyzed.
• 2.2. This insect lipophorin contains 44% lipid and is characterized by large amounts of hydrocarbons and small amounts of diacylglycerol.
• 3.3. This is the first observation of a diacylglycerol-poor insect lipophorin in haemolymph.
• 4.4. Since the main energy source for flight in the Colorado potato beetle is proline, the low diacylglycerol content in lipophorin must be related to its peculiar flight metabolism.
• 5.5. This lipophorin, however, can still take up appreciable amounts of diacylglycerol from the locust fat body. Hydrocarbon uptake by this lipophorin was also demonstrated.
• 6.6. The main function of this lipophorin therefore seems to be transport of hydrocarbons from oenocytes to the cuticle.

     

Lipid composition of three geographical sources of brine shrimp nauplii (Artemia sp.)

• 1.1. Percentage of triacylglycerols (TG), free fatty acids (FFA) and phospholipids (PL) in the total lipids, the fatty acid composition of each of these lipid classes, and the percentage of cholesterol were determined by gas chromatography in three geographical sources (San Francisco Bay, SFB; Chinese, CH; Colombian, COL) of brine shrim (Artemia sp.) nauplii.
• 2.2. There were no significant differences among sources of brine shrimp in total lipids, TG or FFA with means for all sources of 17.8, 65.8 and 10.9%, respectively. Percentage of phospholipid was significantly higher in SFB and CH sources of brine shrimp, 25.1 and 26.5%, respectively, than in COL 18.3%.
• 3.3. Marked differences in percentages of 18:3 (n-3) (linolenic acid) and 20:5 (n-3) (eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA) were found among brine shrimp sources, and concentration of these two fatty acids were usually inversely related within sources. The CH source contained higher concentrations of EPA ( > 9.0%) than the COL and SFB sources (< 5.0%) in all three lipid classes analyzed. No 22:6 (n-3) (docosahexaenoic acid or DHA) was found in any brine shrimp source.
• 4.4. Fatty acid compositions of the TG and PL were similar and did not differ among sources of brine shrimp, while the FFA had a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids, but was similar among sources of brine shrimp.
• 5.5. Differences in n-3 fatty acid composition indicated a difference in nutritional quality among sources of brine shrimp for feeding larval fish.

     

The reproduction strategy of oyster ostrea edulis L. from the biochemical point of view

• 1.1. Influence of the biochemical composition of food (four species of micro-algae and one mixture) on the biochemical composition of gonads and larvae of O. edulis (total protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash content, neutral and polar lipid class composition, amino acid composition and fatty acid composition of total, neutral and polar lipids) and the size of newly released larvae have been investigated.
• 2.2. Precentage of total lipids and triacylglycerols in gonads depends on that in algae (r = 0.52 and 0.69 accordingly).
• 3.3. Gonads rich in lipids had a higher level of triacylglycerols, phospholipids, polar lipids and a lower value of the ratio phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine (PE/PC) than gonads with a low lipid content.
• 4.4. Amino acid composition of gonads depends on that of food, in this case, essential acids are preferentially accumulated (Asp acid, Ser, Ala, Cys, Tyr and Pro) and two non-essential (Thr and Lys).
• 5.5. Fatty acid composition of total lipids of gonads was rather stable; except for the two essential acids 20:523 and 22:6w3, their percentage depends on that of food r = 0.65 and 0.65 accordingly). Fatty acid composition of neutral lipids was more diverse (in number and degree of variety) as compared to polar lipids.
• 6.6. Larvae released from oysters with gonads rich in lipids had a higher percentage of lipids, triacylglycerols, size and a lower ash percentage and value of ratio PE/PC, as compared to larvae from gonads with low lipid content. Total lipid and triacylglycerol contents in gonads correlate rather well with those in larvae (r = 0.77 and 0.47 accordingly).
• 7.7. Phospholipid class composition of larvae strongly depends on that of gonads. All the correlations are high and positive in character (except for phosphatidylinositol).
• 8.8. Amino acid composition of larvae depends on that of gonads and, as in the case with gonads, the same essential acids are accumulated in the first place.
• 9.9. Fatty acid composition of total lipids of newly released larvae was rather stable and independent on that of gonads except for total polyunsaturated acids (r = 0.70) and 20:5w3 (r = 0.65). Fatty acid composition of neutral lipids was lesser diverse (in number and degree of variation) as compared to polar lipids.

     

Blood lipids of the small octopus,Octopus tehuelchus (mollusca,cephalopoda) at different stages of sexual maturation

• 1.1. The lipid and fatty acid composition from the plasma and hemocytes in Octopus tehuelchus at different stages of sexual development, was determined.
• 2.2. The highest content of lipids was found in females engaged in egg development, and the lowest in post-spawning and brooding females. Highest levels occurred during the autumn season in both sexes.
• 3.3. Changes were mainly due to triacylglycerols and diacylglyceryl ethers.
• 4.4. The plasma fatty acid composition did not demonstrate significant changes at different stages of maturation. The arachidonic acid (20:4 ω 6) was present at surprisingly high levels.

     

Sex-specific gene expression in distinct tissues of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei

• 1.1. Soluble proteins extracted from male and female Penaeus vannamei tissues such as eyes, eyestalks, brain, nerve cord, hemolymph, heart, muscle, hepatopancreas, hepatopancreas membrane and cuticular epidermis were analyzed and compared by high-resolution mini-two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (mini-2D-PAGE).
• 2.2. In each shrimp tissue a large number of discrete polypeptides was observed.
• 3.3. The polypeptide patterns from the same tissue of female and male shrimp were mostly similar but both qualitative and quantitative differences were noted, suggesting the presence of sex-specific gene products in various shrimp tissues.
• 4.4. Future applications of these results are discussed.

     

Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of the intertidal crab Chasmagnathus granulata dana, 1851 (Crustacea: Decapoda) during emersion

• 1.1. Lipid, glucose and glycogen concentrations were measured in different tissues of the crab Chasmagnathus granulata during emersion.
• 2.2. After 6 hr of emersion no reduction in the total amount of carbohydrates was found to occur, suggesting that a general metabolic arrest was taking place.
• 3.3. A transitory increase in haemolymphatic glucose and lipid levels was observed. Possible causes are therefore discussed in relation to changes in the flux of substrates for energy production.
• 4.4. The mobilization of carbohydrates and lipids to the gills, observed only during summer, may be concerned with energy supplying for ionic regulation.