Masters Theses
Date of Award
8-1981
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Major
Animal Science
Major Professor
Arthur M. Jungreis
Committee Members
James M. Liles
Abstract
The nature and roles of the high free amino acid levels found in the haemolymph of insects is poorly understood. In order to elicit aspects of the regulation and metabolism of haemolymph free amino acids, we have measured the concentrations, half-lives, turnover rates and rate of incorporation into haemolymph proteins for eight amino acids in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta immediately prior to and throughout the larval-pupal transformation. Throughout this period the concentrations of alanine, arginine, glutamate, histidine, leucine, lysine, proline and valine each exhibited stage specific variations seemingly independent of blood volumes and levels of other amino acids. Half-lives for these amino acids also exhibited reproducible state specific variations indicating independent regulation. Half-lives demonstrated a wide range of utilization (2-170 hours) and do not change in parallel fashion for the amino acids investigated. Conclusions drawn from this study are that a) amino acids are regulated and b) although some amino acids such as histidine appear to be stored in haemolymph, most are dynamically maintained and must be major determinants of insect homeostasis.
Recommended Citation
Henry, J. Michael, "Some Aspects of Amino Acid Regulation in the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1981.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/3008