Studies on very-high-density lipoprotein of Triatoma infestans hemolymph in relation to its function as free fatty acid carrier

The function of Triatoma infestans very-high-density lipoprotein (VHDL) as a free fatty acid transport protein was analyzed. Lipophorin (HDLp) and VHDL are the unique hemolymphatic proteins able to transport free fatty acids (FFA). The transfer of this lipid species between HDLp and VHDL was studied using ¹⁴C-palmitic acid-labeled VHDL or ¹⁴C-palmitic acid-labeled HDLp as donor substrate and the same unlabeled lipoproteins as acceptor substrate. The VHDL is more effective as acceptor of ¹⁴C-FFA from HDLp rather than donor of ¹⁴C-FFA to HDLp. When ¹⁴C-palmitic acid-labeled VHDL was incubated with either fat body or testicle, it was observed that the ¹⁴C-palmitic acid was taken up by both tissues and incorporated into their lipid components.