Hydrocarbon Transport from Oenocytes to Body Surface by Lipophorin

昆虫的角质层具有多种功能：皮肤和骨骼，内部身体和外部环境之间的物理保护屏障，以及对微生物的防御。碳氢化合物主要组成的蜡质层覆盖在角质层上。碳氢化合物在卵母细胞合成，并通过昆虫循环脂蛋白（lipophorin）运输到蜡层。关于烃类通过角质层从血淋巴运输到蜡层的机制，人们知之甚少。在本研究中，完整的载脂蛋白被发现在角质层和角质层提取物纯化。

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.