Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Lipophorin was isolated from the hemolymph by KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation. Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) was isolated from low-density lipophorin (LDLp). High-density lipophorin (HDLp) (Mr ∼-620,000) consisted of two apoproteins, apoLp-I (Mr ∼-224,000) and apoLp-II (Mr ∼-81,000). Isolated apoLp-III (Mr ∼-20,000) had two isoforms in non-denaturing gels. Injection of adipokinetic hormone-I resulted in the formation of LDLp in both locust phases. Lipid content of HDLp was estimated at 48.4% and 51.8% for solitary and gregarious locusts, respectively. In LDLp, lipids constituted 59.8% and 57.1% for gregarious and solitary locusts, respectively. The results suggest that the gregarious locusts were more efficient in the conversion of HDLp to LDLp.