The role of diacylglycerol-carrying lipoprotein I in lipid transport during insect vitellogenesis

A diacylglycerol-carrying lipoprotein was isolated from mature eggs of the silkworm, Philosamia cynthia and compared, for physiochemical properties, with the major diacylglycerol-carrying lipoprotein I (LP-I) of hemolymph. The two molecules are identical an electrophoretic mobility, structural configuration as revealed by electron microscopy, and amino acid composition. In addition mannose was detected in the lipid-free protein moiety, thus enabling classification of the molecules as glycoproteins. The molecules differ in lipid content with egg-LP-I containing only 3.6% of the diacylglycerol content of hemolymph LP-I and the phospholipid and cholesterol components also showing a marked reduction. Analysis of the LP-I and vitellogenin (another diacylglycerol-carrying lipoprotein; LP-II) concentrations of mature eggs indicates that the amounts of the two glycolipoproteins in eggs are insufficient to account for the total acylglycerol content of the eggs. The results suggest that LP-I functions as a true carrier-protein serving to transport diacylglycerol from the fat body to the ovary. This proposal is supported by the observation that LP-I isolated from the egg retains the physiological capacity of hemolymph-LPi to take up diacylglycerol from fat body. Thus it is suggested that LP-I is the major source of lipid for vitellogenesis, whereas vitellogenin is the primary source of protein.

Isolation and characterization of insect vitellogenin. Its identity with hemolymph lipoprotein II

Several years ago, we isolated two major lipoproteins from the pupal hemolymph of the Cynthia silkworm, both of which contained diacylglycerol as a major lipid, and named them lipoproteins I and II. In this paper, we present definite evidence that the vitellogenin (female protein) of this insect is indeed identical with lipoprotein II.

Transport of lipids in insects

Many insect species are almost completely dependent on lipids for their metabolic needs, although this is usually a function of developmental stage. The primary storage organ is the fat body, which can constitute 50% of the fresh weight of the insect and also acts as the major metabolic center (analogous to the vertebrate adipose tissue and liver). Bathing the fat body (and all other tissues and organs) is the hemolymph, the main functions of which are to transport nutrient substrates to utilization sites and to deliver metabolic wastes to the excretory system. Although neutral lipids are stored as triglycerides, in times of need they appear to be endergonically released into the hemolymph as diglycerides in the majority of insects thus far studied (particularly silkmoths and locusts). Indeed, diglycerides constitute the largest neutral lipid fraction in the hemolymph of silkmoths, locusts, cockroaches, bugs, etc. In the hemolymph the diglyceride is found as a constituent of specific lipoproteins, and one specific lipoprotein class (lipoprotein I; high density lipoprotein) appears to be necessary for the transport of diglyceride from the fat body cell into the hemolymph. This particular lipoprotein is also involved in the transport of cholesterol from the gut into the hemolymph. Thus, lipoprotein I appears to be the major neutral lipid and sterol transport agent in the insects studied and, in addition, plays a regulatory role in the release of both diglycerides and sterols. Hemolymph lipoprotein II (very high density lipoprotein) may be important in providing protein and lipid to the insect ovary during oogenesis. Ecdysone, the polyhydroxy steroidal insect molting hormone, is probably carried "free" in the hemolymph, although reports exist of specific hemolymph-binding proteins in some species. The other major insect growth hormone, juvenile hormone, is transported by hemolymph lipoproteins in silkmoths and locusts and by a lower molecular weight hemolymph protein in the tobacco hornworm.

Biosynthesis of agr-Ecdysone by Prothoracic Glands in vitro

An in vitro study in which isolated prothoracic glands of the Bombyx silkworm were cultured has provided definite evidence that the prothoracic gland is the site where molting hormone is synthesized. The hormone behaved very similarly to free ecdysone on thin-layer chromatography. Analysis by liquid chromatography and mass fragmentography revealed that the hormone is identical with alpha-ecdysone.