Hemolymph transport of lipids, including hydrocarbons, constitutes a vital function in insects and requires plasma lipophorin. High density lipophorin was isolated from the Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) by KBr gradient ultracentrifugation. Purity of lipophorin was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Anti-lipophorin antiserum was generated in rabbits. Cross-reactivity of this antiserum was investigated with immunodiffusion on ten termite species in the genera Reticulitermes, Coptotermes, Zootermopsis, and Kalotermes, and on five cockroach species. Specificity of the antiserum for lipophorin was examined with Western blotting. Immunoprecipitation confirmed that hydrocarbons in the hemolymph of R. flavipes and R. lucifugus were associated only with lipophorin and not with any other proteins. An ELISA was developed, validated, and used to monitor the lipophorin titer in various castes of R. flavipes.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (Eastern subterranean termite)
Species 2: Isoptera Hodotermitidae Zootermopsis nevadensis (Dampwood termite)
Keywords: hydrocarbon, hemolymph protein
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