ISSN:
0739-4462
Keywords:
Linoleic acid biosynthesis
;
A. pisum
;
polyunsaturated fatty acids
;
symbiotes
;
Chemistry
;
Food Science, Agricultural, Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) incorporated [1-14C]acetate into a phospholipid dienoic fatty acid in a time-dependent manner. In 2-h incubations, the incorporation of radioactivity into the 18:2 fraction was minimal, whereas after 45 h 18:2 was the major fatty acid labeled. Ozonolysis of the isolated dienoic fatty acid methyl ester followed by radio-gas-liquid chromatography showed that radioactivity was associated with fragments containing carbons 1-9 and 13-18. These data established the location of the double bonds in the 9,12 positions and indicated that the entire molecule was labeled from [1-14C]acetate. Tetracycline-treated aphids synthesized linoleic acid in the same proportions as untreated controls. Scanning electron microscopy showed that over 50% of the treated insects had greatly reduced numbers of intracellular symbiotes or lacked them or most of the existing symbiotes had an abnormal appearance. Therefore, we conclude that intracellular symbiotes are not involved in the biosynthesis of linoleic acid in the pea aphid.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/arch.940030209
