Locust adipokinetic hormones mobilize diacylglycerols selectively.

The diacylglycerols (DG) molecular species and their fatty acid (FA) composition were investigated by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) in haemolymph of Locusta migratoria after application of adipokinetic hormones Locmi-AKH-I, -II and -III. The analyses showed (1) a heterogeneous distribution of individual DGs in haemolymph after the hormone application. The results revealed that mobilization of the DGs is molecular species-specific with the highest proportion of 34:1 DG (16:0/18:1 - mw 594Da) for all Locmi-AKHs bearing palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1) residues, and forming about 20% of the total mobilized DG content. (2) Analysis of fat body triacylglycerols revealed that all Locmi-AKHs mobilize the DGs selectively with the preference of those possessing the C18 and C16 FAs. The fat body FAs with carbon chain longer than 18 did not participate in the mobilization. (3) A distribution of FAs in the DG structures obtained by LC/ESI-MS, and FA analysis by GC-FID after transmethylation indicated a certain degree of Locmi-AKH selectivity toward the mobilized DGs and hence the FAs. The Locmi-AKH-I significantly prefers mobilization of DGs containing unsaturated FAs, while Locmi-AKH-II and -III prefer mobilization of saturated FAs.