J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 2, 558-562, 01, 1986
Changes in lipoprotein composition during larval-pupal metamorphosis of an insect, Manduca sexta
SV Prasad, RO Ryan, JH Law and MA Wells
During the transition from the last feeding larval stage to the pupal stage
of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, significant changes occur in the
properties of lipophorin, the major hemolymph lipoprotein. Within the first
24 h after cessation of feeding, the larval lipophorin (HDLp-L) is first
converted to a higher density form (HDLp-W2) and then HDLp-W2 is converted
to a lower density form (HDLp-W1). HDLp-W1 remains in the hemolymph until
pupation, when another form, HDLp-P, with a density between HDLp-W1 and
HDLp-L, is present. Although all the lipophorins contain identical
apoproteins, they differ in lipid content and composition; the differences
in density being primarily related to diacylglycerol content. The
conversion of HDLp-L to HDLp-W1 is accompanied by a loss of hydrocarbon and
uptake of carotenes. These latter changes in lipophorin composition reflect
alterations in cuticular lipid composition. HDLp-L was radiolabeled in the
apoproteins by injecting animals with 3H-amino acids early in the last
larval stage. Subsequently HDLp-L was isolated at the end of the larval
stage, HDLp-W2 and HDLp-W1 were isolated during the wandering stage, and
HDLp- P was isolated after pupation. The specific activity of the
apoproteins in the four lipophorins was not significantly different,
suggesting that the observed alterations in lipophorin properties do not
require synthesis of new apoproteins but result from retailoring the lipid
composition of preexisting molecules. Examination of the hemolymph of
individual animals during these transitions showed that only one species of
lipoprotein was present, never a mixture of two or more species. These
observations suggest that the lipoprotein conversions are precisely timed
and that lipoprotein metabolism during larval development and pupation
cannot be considered a static process. The unique finding of these studies
was that synthesis of lipophorin apoproteins proceeds actively during the
first part of the fifth instar but then ceases and does not recommence
during the wandering or early pupal stages.