ISSN:
0006-3592
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Studies are reviewed on the composition of hemolymph from Japanese beetle larvae, Popillia japonica. This research was conducted to determine the chemical environment required for sporulation of the milky disease organism, Bacillus popilliae. Amino acids, proteins, organic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and oxygen content were determined in hemolymph from healthy and diseased larvae. Oxygen content of hemolymph was measured by microelectrodes implanted in the hemocoel of living larvae. Vegetative growth of the pathogen reduces the dissolved oxygen; however, as sporulation occurs, oxygen concentration approaches normal values. Trehalose, the major hemolymph sugar, is reduced by ca. 50% during the course of milky disease. Neutral lipids, phospholipids, and hydrocarbons decrease markedly with infection. Both branched-chain and normal alkanes occur in hemolymph. Milky disease causes an increase in concentration of pyruvic, malic, glycolic, tartaric, and glyoxylic acids. The major hemolymph protein, a lipoglycoprotein, has a mol. wt. of ca. 500,000. Reduced concentration of this protein is accompanied by the appearance of a smaller protein. Amino acids that increase significantly as a result of infection are: Glutamic acid, aspartic acid, β-alanine, phenylalanine, threonine, lysine, and serine. Hemolymph contains few peptides of low molecular weight.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.260150603
