Sécrétions protéiques du tissu adipeux chez Rhodnius prolixus (Stål). Étude immunochimique

Abstract

The proteins present in saline extracts or culture medium of the fat body from fifth-instar larvae or adults of Rhodnius prolixus were examined. Immunochemical analyses show six or seven antigens common to both the haemolymph and the fat body of adults. Continuous gradient gel electrophoresis reveals that most of haemolymph proteins are found in the fat body extract and incubation medium. The three predominant adult haemolymph fractions (lipoprotein 5, glycoprotein 3, and vitellogenin) are identified in the fat body of both female and male adults but no vitellogenin is found in the fifth-instar larvae fat body. Vitellogenin synthesized and secreted in vitro by the adult fat body consists mostly of protein A which is a 260 000 molecular weight lipoglycoprotein. The larger complex of 500 000 (protein B) is mainly found in haemolymph and ovocytes.