Locust adipokinetic hormone stimulates lipid mobilization in Manduca sexta

Abstract

Adipokinetic hormone, a decapeptide isolated from the locust, stimulates mobilization of diacylglycerols from the locust fat body and loading of the lipid transport protein, lipophorin. Injection of the synthetic locust adipokinetic hormone into a sphinx moth, Manduca sexta, causes lipid loading of lipophorin. The lipophorin decreases in density from 1.11 to 1.06 g/ml, and a soluble protein from the hemolymph (apolipophorin III) associates with the lipophorin particle. Administration of intermediate doses of hormone indicates that lipophorin is converted directly to the low density form; no appreciable amounts of intermediate density particles are formed.