STUDIES ON VERY-HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN OF TRIATOMA-INFESTANS HEMOLYMPH IN RELATION TO ITS FUNCTION AS FREE FATTY-ACID CARRIER

The function of Triatoma infestans very-high-density lipoprotein (VHDL ) as a free fatty acid transport protein was analyzed, Lipophorin (HDL p) and VHDL are the unique hemolymphatic proteins able to transport fr ee fatty acids (FFA), The transfer of this lipid species between HDLp and VHDL was studied using C-14-palmitic acid-labeled VHDL or C-14-pal mitic acid-labeled HDLp as donor substrate and the same unlabeled lipo proteins as acceptor substrate. The VHDL is more effective as acceptor of C-14-FFA from HDLp rather than donor of C-14-FFA to HDLp, When C-1 4-palmitic acid-labeled VHDL was incubated with either fat body or tes ticle, it was observed that the C-14-palmitic acid was taken up by bot h tissues and incorporated into their lipid components.