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J Insect Physiol

Title:		Hydrocarbon circulation and colonial signature in Pachycondyla villosa
Author(s):		Lucas C; Pho DB; Fresneau D; Jallon JM;
Address:		"Mecanismes de communication, Universite Paris Sud, CNRS-UMR 8620, 91405 Orsay, France. clucas@utm.utoronto.ca"
Journal Title:		J Insect Physiol
Year:		2004
Volume:		50
Issue:		7
Page Number:		595 - 607
DOI:		10.1016/j.jinsphys.2004.04.006
ISSN/ISBN:		0022-1910 (Print) 0022-1910 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In ants, both cuticular and postpharyngeal gland (PPG) hydrocarbons (HCs) have been involved in nestmate recognition. However, no detailed comparison is available. A comparative study including also high density lipophorin (HDLp), an internal HC carrier, was therefore undertaken on Pachycondyla villosa. Purified HDLp is an 820 kDa lipoprotein with a density of 1.114 g/ml and two 245 and 80 kDa apo-proteins. Its hydrocarbon profile is very similar with the cuticular one, in agreement with its hydrocarbon carrier function. Conversely, n-alkanes and externally branched monomethylalkanes are markedly decreased in the PPG. According to their physical properties, this suggests that they are involved in waterproofing on the cuticle. The PPG actually contains only internally branched mono-, dimethylalkanes or monomethylalkenes; their greater fluidity is more adequate for chemical communication. The percentages of some of them are statistically not different between the cuticle and PPG. Their mixtures vary with colonies and they may thus be involved in colonial signature. A scheme for hydrocarbon circulation is discussed, involving lipophorin, cuticle, PPG and self-grooming in one individual, a pathway complementary or alternative to the selective delivery by lipophorin in some other insects. HCs are then distributed between nestmates' cuticles through allo-grooming and physical contacts"
Keywords:		"Animals Exocrine Glands/*chemistry/physiology Female Hydrocarbons/*isolation & purification Hymenoptera/*chemistry/physiology Insect Proteins/*isolation & purification/physiology Lipoproteins/*isolation & purification Lipoproteins, HDL/isolation & purific;"
Notes:		"MedlineLucas, C Pho, D B Fresneau, D Jallon, J M eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2004/07/06 J Insect Physiol. 2004 Jul; 50(7):595-607. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2004.04.006"