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Project information
Lipids in bumble bees and their role in biosynthesis of pheromones

Project Identification
IAA4055403
Project Period
1/2004 - 12/2008
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
  • Grants of distinctly investigative character focused on the sphere of research pursued at present particularly in the ASCR
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Science
  • doc. RNDr. Vladimír Ptáček, CSc.
Keywords
lipids; lipophorin; fat body; desaturase; bumblebees; labial gland; marking pheromone; biosynthesis
Cooperating Organization
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the ASCR, v. v. i.
  • Responsible person RNDr. Irena Valterová, CSc.

Storage, mobilisation, transport, and metabolism of lipids in different bumblebee species will be studied in connection with the biosynthesis of aliphatic components of the male marking pheromone. Composition of lipids in different species will be determined. Storage form of lipids in the fat body [triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols (DAG), free fatty acids (FA), and phospholipids] will be analysed as well as the transport form (DAG in the hemolymph). Similarities in the pattern of FA in lipids and in lipidic pheromonal components were observed in some species, indicating that males may use lipids as starting material for pheromonal biosynthesis. To understand the biochemistry of pheromone formation, labelled FA of different chain length will be incubated in vitro and in vivo. Shortening or elongation of the carbon chain as well as the desaturation will be studied. Results of the project are expected to decipher biosynthetic pathways in which pheromonal components are formed.

Publications

Total number of publications: 7

2008

2007

2006

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