Flight metabolism in Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): the role of carbohydrates and lipids

Biochemical and cellular characterization of lipophorin–midgut interaction in the hematophagous Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

“…Considering that lipophorin level in the hemolymph of P. megistus is about 5 mg/ml (Canavoso et al, 2003(Canavoso et al, , 2004a, it is reasonable to expect that binding sites at the midgut will be saturated in many physiological conditions in order to ensure an efficient transfer of lipids. This finding appears to be common in insects since similar results were obtained for the fat body and midgut of M. sexta (Tsuchida and Wells, 1990;Gondim and Wells, 2000), the fat body of L. migratoria (Dantuma et al, 1996) and for the midgut of R. prolixus (Grillo et al, 2003).…”

“…Considering the physiology of triatomines, the lack of an endocytic pathway for lipophorin in the midgut should be analyzed. Although P. megistus takes large blood meals, its access to blood sources is restricted and the insect can sustain long periods of starving (Canavoso et al, 2003). Since both lipid loading and unloading at the midgut can occur upon nutritional status of the insect, it is reasonable to expect that internalization of lipophorin could not be a relevant mechanism to fit lipid metabolism to insect's needs.…”

Anopheles gambiae lipophorin: Characterization and role in lipid transport to developing oocyte

“…In larvae , such as of M. sexta, most lipids are delivered to the fat body. In adult, lipids are translocated from the fat body to the flight muscle (Ryan and van der Horst, 2000;Canavoso et al, 2003), in a hormonally controlled process (Shapiro and Law, 1983;Van der Horst et al, 2001;Van der Horst, 2003). In An.…”

Metabolic pathways for dietary lipids in the midgut of hematophagous Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

“…According to studies performed in a related hemipteran, Rhodnius prolixus, lipids are digested and absorbed in the anterior midgut or ''crop'' (Billingsley, 1990). Thereafter, sn-1, 2-DAG is synthesized by midgut cells and exported to circulating lipophorin (Rimoldi et al, 1985;Canavoso and Rubiolo, 1995;Canavoso et al, 2003). Both events are of remarkable importance during the absorption of dietary lipids; however, the metabolic pathways for midgut DAG synthesis have not been characterized.…”