title: Chlorophyll and its degradation products in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae: observations using epifluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: Chlorophyll and chlorophyll degradation products were observed in the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) using epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A clear red fluorescence (EFM) and a fluorescence induced by a laser wavelength of 650 nm (CLSM) were observed. In the lateral caeca, in the ventriculus and in the excretory organ, a bright light blue fluorescence was observed in close association with chlorophyll by using EFM. The same material can be localized with CLSM by using a laser with a wavelength of 488 nm. By comparison with synthetic guanine, this bright fluorescence is supposed to be guanine. The presence of guanine fluorescence in the mite pellets confirms this hypothesis. A possible mechanism for guanine formation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Innovation Centre, Via Quarello 15/A, 10135 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.forename: Massimo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Maffei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D040102:Tetranychidae / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll