Lipophorin uptake by the larval fat body and adult ovary in the wax moth Galleria mellonella

Abstract

Lipophorin (Lp) acts in the circulation of insects to selectively deliver lipids to target tissues. In the present study, we wanted to show that Lp is taken up into larval fat body cells and the adult ovary in Galleria mellonella. Larval fat body and adult ovary tissues were incubated at room temperature for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled Lp. Fluorescence microscopy and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed that fat body and ovary tissues internalize fluorescence‐labeled Lp. The results suggest that both lipids and proteins are taken up by fat body cells and the ovary and also that large amounts of proteins and lipids taken up can serve as building blocks and as a source of energy. Immunological relationships with other insects were investigated using western blotting. The data showed that the Lp of Galleria mellonella is related to that of Hyphantria cunea.

Receptor‐mediated endocytosis of lipid and lipophorin by the larval fat body, adult ovary and testis in the wax moth Galleria mellonella

“…Lipophorin transports not only lipid but also absorbed Lp itself into the ovary, where it is involved in the formation of yolk protein during egg maturation (Kawooya et al . 1988; Jung et al . 2006).…”