Transport of Hydrocarbons by Lipophorin: Oenocytes, Epidermis, Fat Body, and Ovary Interactions

碳氢化合物（“蜡”）在防止水分流失和化学品（包括杀虫剂）渗透昆虫表皮方面起着关键作用。 在德国小蠊中，雌性性信息素来自碳氢化合物生物合成途径。 Schal博士的实验室从以前的NSF赠款奖的结果已经挑战了碳氢化合物直接从卵母细胞，合成它们，到上表皮运输的范式。 相反，PI显示表皮脂质通过血液蛋白从卵母细胞转运到储存和沉积部位。 他的长期目标是了解碳氢化合物通过血液运输的动力学和调节，并将这些信息应用于开发昆虫控制的新策略。 PI的具体研究目标是：（1）记录脂质运载蛋白（一种血液蛋白）从卵母细胞、中肠和脂肪体中摄取碳氢化合物;（2）表征脂质运载蛋白在珠被、脂肪体和卵巢中沉积碳氢化合物的机制;（3）测试发育和生殖过程中碳氢化合物运输的动态性质。 这一提议具有基本的生物学价值，阐明了模式昆虫中脂质产生和运输的动力学。 此外，它还将深入了解对社会产生巨大影响的重要害虫德国蟑螂的碳氢化合物运输机制。

Hydrocarbons ("waxes") play critical roles in preventing water loss and in penetration of chemicals, including insecticides, through the insect cuticle. In the German cockroach, a female sex pheromone is derived from a hydrocarbon biosynthetic pathway. The results of Dr. Schal's laboratory from a previous NSF grant award have challenged the paradigm that hydrocarbons are transported directly from the oenocytes, which synthesize them, to the epicuticle. Rather, the PI has shown that that cuticular lipids are transported from the oenocytes by a blood protein to storage and deposition sites. His long-range goals are to understand the dynamics and regulation of hydrocarbon transport through the blood and to apply this information towards the development of new tactics of insect control. The PI's specific research objectives are: (1) Document hydrocarbon uptake by lipophorin, a blood protein, from oenocytes, midgut, and fat body; (2) Characterize the mechanisms of hydrocarbon deposition by lipophorin in the integument, fat body, and ovary; and (3) Test the dynamic nature of hydrocarbon transport during development and reproduction. This proposal is of basic biological value, elucidating the dynamics of lipid production and transport in a model insect. Moreover, it will provide an in-depth understanding of mechanisms of hydrocarbon transport in the German cockroach, an important pest of tremendous impact to society.