Hydrocarbon Transport from Oenocytes to Body Surface by Lipophorin

昆虫角质层具有多种功能；皮肤和骨骼，身体内部和外部环境之间的物理保护屏障，以及对微生物的防御。主要由碳氢化合物组成的蜡层覆盖在表皮上。碳氢化合物在卵泡细胞合成，并通过昆虫循环脂蛋白脂蛋白运输到蜡层。碳氢化合物通过角质层从血淋巴到蜡层的运输机制尚不清楚。在本研究中，在角质层中发现了完整的脂蛋白，并从角质层提取物中纯化。

Insect cuticle performs various functions; a skin and a skeleton, a physical protective barrier between the internal body and the external environment, and a defense against microbes. Wax layer that hydrocarbons mainly comprise covers the cuticle. Hydrocarbons are synthesized at the oenocytes, and transported to the wax layer by an insect circulating lipoprotein, lipophorin. Little has been known about the mechanisms of the hydrocarbon transport through the cuticle from haemolymph to the wax layer. In the present study, intact lipophorin was found in the cuticle and purified from the cuticle extracts.