Abstract
Biosynthesis of lipids by Thysanoessa inermis collected from Balsfjorden, northern Norway, in May 1980, was examined in vitro. The highest concentration of lipid within the krill was in the “hepatopancreas”, and this organ was the most active in esterifying free fatty acids into wax esters. The “hepatopancreas” (i.e., thoracic contents) incorporated (14C) glucose, (14C) alanine and 3H2O into wax esters, with the fatty alcohol moieties being labelled more than the fatty acids. (14C) fatty acid was incorporated preferentially into the fatty acid moieties of wax esters, this incorporation being markedly stimulated by free fatty alcohol. It is concluded that the fatty alcohols of wax esters are preferentially biosynthesized de novo from dietary protein and carbohydrates, whereas the fatty acids derive preferentially from dietary lipid. On the basis of 3H incorporated from 3H2O, the hepatopancreas in a 50 mg II-group (2 yr old) individual of T. inermis is capable of biosynthesizing de novo, approximately 0.1 mg of lipid (as fatty acids) per day at 5°C.
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Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban