title: Concurrence in the ability for lipid synthesis between life stages in insects.
abstract: The ability to synthesize lipids is critical for an organism's fitness; hence, metabolic pathways, underlying lipid synthesis, tend to be highly conserved. Surprisingly, the majority of parasitoids deviate from this general metabolic model by lacking the ability to convert sugars and other carbohydrates into lipids. These insects spend the first part of their life feeding and developing in or on an arthropod host, during which they can carry over a substantial amount of lipid reserves. While many parasitoid species have been tested for lipogenic ability at the adult life stage, it has remained unclear whether parasitoid larvae can synthesize lipids. Here we investigate whether or not several insects can synthesize lipids during the larval stage using three ectoparasitic wasps (developing on the outside of the host) and the vinegar flyDrosophila melanogasterthat differ in lipogenic ability in the adult life stage. Using feeding experiments and stable isotope tracing with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we first confirm lipogenic abilities in the adult life stage. Using topical application of stable isotopes in developing larvae, we then provide clear evidence of concurrence in lipogenic ability between larval and adult life stages in all species tested.
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics Group, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4-5, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (IRBI), UMR 7261 CNRS/Université François-Rabelais de Tours, Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Bertanne
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4465-6020
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service , United States Department of Agriculture , 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Denis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Section Animal Ecology, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service , United States Department of Agriculture , 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Hans T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Alborn
keywords: deuterium; evolution; fatty acid synthesis; metabolism