Lipoproteins female specific

Lipids are involved in a number of essential processes in the growth and reproduction of marine invertebrates. Membrane lipids, primarily phospholipids and sterols, combine with membrane proteins to form insoluble complexes that are important in membrane structure. Many marine invertebrates have oil droplets within cells of hepatic-type tissues. These droplets are primarily triacylglycerols or wax esters and serve as energy stores. Finally, lipids occur in water-soluble lipoproteins where phospholipids, triacylglycerols, and sterols are combined with various apoproteins. Lipids are transported between various tissues via hemolymph lipoproteins. Female-specific lipoproteins occur in the hemolymph and eggs of adult females of many marine invertebrates. These egg lipoproteins provide protein and lipid for the development of larvae after they hatch from the... 

Abbreviations used TG, triacylglycerol PL, Phospholipid LP-I, lipoprotein I (male and female) LP-II, lipoprotein II (female-specific) N.D., not detected T, trace (< 0.5%). 

Cancer antennarius (rock crab) Hemolymph (female- specific lipoprotein) 184 000 100 000 84 000 Spaziani et al. (1986)... 

Fig. 5A -D. Spectra of lipoproteins from hemolymph and ovary of crabs. A Lipoprotein from ovary of crab Cancer pagurus) in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7. (Zagalsky et al. 1967) B Lipoprotein II (female-specific lipoprotein) isolated from hemolymph of vitellogenic blue crab Callinectes sapidus). Lipoprotein was in 0.05 M TRIS buffer (pH 8.0). (Lee and Puppione 1988). C Ovorverdin from Homarus gammarus in 0.5 M NaCl — 5 mm EDTA (pH 5). (Zagalsky 1985). D Lipoproteins from ovary of scallop, Pecten maximus, in 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 7). Free carotenoids were released from the lipoproteins by extraction with acetone. (Zagalsky et al. 1967)...

Female decapod crustaceans have two types of HDL hemolymph particles. One type of particle is common to male and female and one is female-specific and present during vitellogenesis. These two particles, although both HDL, have quite different sedimentation velocities, principal peptides, shapes, and molecular masses. The female-specific lipoprotein in crab hemolymph is identical to the major lipoprotein of the ovary, i.e., lipovitellin. 

There is evidence for both ovarian and extra-ovarian synthesis of female-specific lipoproteins by crustaceans. In isopods and amphipods there is evidence of vitellogenin synthesis by subepidermal adipose tissue. Several decapods show vitellogenin synthesis by the hepatopancreas. There is clear evidence that the crustacean ovary contributes to lipovitellin synthesis. The presence of vitellogenin in hemolymph before development of the ovary suggests that extra-ovarian tissues may be the site of vitellogenin or lipovitellin synthesis before ovary development begins, followed by active ovarian lipovitellin synthesis. 

Nakagawa H, Salam A, Kasahara S (1982) Female-specific lipoprotein level in hemolymph during egg formation in freshwater shrimp. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 48 1073-1080 Nelis HJCF, Laven P, Moens L, Sorgeloos P, Jonckheere JA, Criel GR, deLeenheer AP (1984) Cis-canthaxanthins unusual carotenoids in the eggs and the reproductive system of female brine shrimp Artemia. J Biol Chem 259 6063-6066... 

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