Variations in the amino acids of haemolymph protein in females of Glossina austeni Newst. (Diptera, Glossinidae) during the reproductive cycle

Abstract

AbstractThe amino acids of the haemolymph proteins of female Glossina austeni Newst. have been analysed at selected times during the first two pregnancy cycles by automatic amino acid analysis. The most prominent amino acids were glutamate, aspartate, lysine and leucine, with these amino acids accounting for almost 50% of the total amino acid residues. The molar percentage of all 16 amino acids observed varied only slightly throughout the pregnancy cycles. The amino acids of the perchloric acid-precipitable fraction of the gut contents of third-instar larvae (considered to be equivalent to milk secretion) have also been analysed and differ considerably from the haemolymph proteins, with glutamate and phenylalanine particularly prominent. Because of their low content of aromatic amino acids, the haemolymph proteins are not regarded as an important store of these compounds.