Fatty acid biosynthesis in the integument tissue of Triatoma infestans.
1. The biosynthesis of lipids and their distribution in several tissues were investigated by injection of 1-14C acetate in females and 5th instar nymphs of the hematophagous hemiptera T. infestans. 2. Biosynthesis of palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and very long chain fatty acids up to 26 carbons and hydrocarbons, was shown. They were found in haemolymph, fat body, integument, epicuticle and oocytes with special distribution. 3. Epicuticular hydrocarbon labelling was shown to precede that of haemolymph hydrocarbons. 4. Radioactivity incorporation into each lipid class depends on the developmental stage and the time after injection. 5. "In vitro" incubation of integument tissue with 1-14C acetate demonstrated the biosynthesis of palmitic and stearic acids, a low desaturation to oleic and palmitoleic and an elongation to acids of up to 34 carbons. Hydrocarbons were also synthesized. 6. Haemolymph in the incubation medium has a positive effect on the release of newly-synthesized fatty acid and unsaponifiable material from the integument.
Juárez
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P
Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CONICET-UNLP, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Argentina.
Brenner
R R
RR
D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014224:Triatoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014225:Triatominae / Q000378:metabolism*
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005227:Fatty Acids