Hydrocarbon biosynthesis in Periplaneta americana

Abstract

The hydrocarbon content on the cuticle of adult Periplaneta americana is reasonably constant throughout adult life. The hydrocarbon synthesis by adults is probably only to replace material lost by abrasion and other means. During the teneral period (the first few hours after the adult ecdysis) hydrocarbon biosynthesis is very low. Hydrocarbon biosynthesis via an elongation-decarboxylation pathway does not occur at this time as demonstrated by the fact that acetate-1- 14C and propionate-1- 14C are not incorporated into hydrocarbons by teneral adults. The optimum for hydrocarbon biosynthesis by adult P. americana occurs during the 1- to 4-week period and decreases after 2 months of adult life. The incorporation of even carbon fatty acids from octanoate to stearate, and linoleate are studied in each of the adult periods. The possibilities of the hydrocarbon biosynthesis from fatty acids via the elongation-decarboxylation pathway, the head-to-head condensation pathway, or both are discussed.