Presence of a fatty acid-binding protein and lipid stores in flight muscles of Dipetalogaster maximus (Hemiptera : Reduviidae)

A fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) from the cytosolic fraction of the tria tomine Dipetalogaster maximus (Uhler) night muscles was purified by a proce dure based on gel filtration, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromat ography, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS -PAGE). The protein has an apparent molecular mass of 14 kDa, and its N-ter minus is unblocked. Its N-terminal sequence was obtained by submitting an S DS-PAGE band blotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane to Edman deg radation. The sequence obtained indicates that this FABP belongs to the hea rt type. This is the first time that a fatty acid-binding protein has been reported for a triatomine. The presence of said FABP, abundant mitochondria , and lipid stores in the flight muscles of D. maximus suggests that beta o xidation of fatty acids is used by the triatomine thoracic muscle as an ene rgy source, and could be related to its dispersal capacity.