Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees

Membrane diversity associated with variation in body mass and body temperature of hymenopterans was investigated. Body mass of organisms affects most aspects of their biology, including physiological traits. One trait influenced by mass is metabolic rate, but the basis for its variation among organi...

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Main Author: Rodríguez, Enrique
Language:en
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10393/24082
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spelling ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-OOU.#10393-240822014-06-14T03:49:58ZVariation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American BeesRodríguez, EnriqueMembraneLipidsHymenopteransMembrane pacemaker theoryMetabolic rateBeesThorax temperatureMembrane diversity associated with variation in body mass and body temperature of hymenopterans was investigated. Body mass of organisms affects most aspects of their biology, including physiological traits. One trait influenced by mass is metabolic rate, but the basis for its variation among organisms remains unclear. Recent work revealed that membrane phospholipid composition varies systematically with body mass: smaller vertebrates with higher mass-specific metabolic rates have more fluid membranes containing more long chains of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and less monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). This “membrane pacemaker” theory of metabolism has recently been challenged by a lack of link between metabolic rate and membrane composition. To test this relationship, we have quantified the membrane lipid composition of 22 species of Panamanian orchid bees with a 22-fold range in mass. Results incorporating phylogenetic analysis show significant relationships for 18:1 (MUFA) and 18:3 (PUFA) with body mass that are consistent with the “pacemaker” theory, and unexpected relationships with saturated fatty acids (SFA). Moreover, changes in membrane fatty acid composition with temperature are a strategy in ectothermic poïkilotherms that is part of the “homeoviscous adaptation” model. Here, we report systematic variations in fatty acid composition linked with thoracic temperature excess in North American Hymenopterans, a novel discovery in these heterotherms. These findings are discussed in the context of diet, metabolism and lifespan.2013-04-29T19:11:38Z2013-04-29T19:11:38Z20132013-04-29Thèse / Thesishttp://hdl.handle.net/10393/24082en
collection NDLTD
language en
sources NDLTD
topic Membrane
Lipids
Hymenopterans
Membrane pacemaker theory
Metabolic rate
Bees
Thorax temperature
spellingShingle Membrane
Lipids
Hymenopterans
Membrane pacemaker theory
Metabolic rate
Bees
Thorax temperature
Rodríguez, Enrique
Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
description Membrane diversity associated with variation in body mass and body temperature of hymenopterans was investigated. Body mass of organisms affects most aspects of their biology, including physiological traits. One trait influenced by mass is metabolic rate, but the basis for its variation among organisms remains unclear. Recent work revealed that membrane phospholipid composition varies systematically with body mass: smaller vertebrates with higher mass-specific metabolic rates have more fluid membranes containing more long chains of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and less monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). This “membrane pacemaker” theory of metabolism has recently been challenged by a lack of link between metabolic rate and membrane composition. To test this relationship, we have quantified the membrane lipid composition of 22 species of Panamanian orchid bees with a 22-fold range in mass. Results incorporating phylogenetic analysis show significant relationships for 18:1 (MUFA) and 18:3 (PUFA) with body mass that are consistent with the “pacemaker” theory, and unexpected relationships with saturated fatty acids (SFA). Moreover, changes in membrane fatty acid composition with temperature are a strategy in ectothermic poïkilotherms that is part of the “homeoviscous adaptation” model. Here, we report systematic variations in fatty acid composition linked with thoracic temperature excess in North American Hymenopterans, a novel discovery in these heterotherms. These findings are discussed in the context of diet, metabolism and lifespan.
author Rodríguez, Enrique
author_facet Rodríguez, Enrique
author_sort Rodríguez, Enrique
title Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
title_short Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
title_full Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
title_fullStr Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
title_full_unstemmed Variation in Membrane Composition Associated with Body Mass and Body Temperature in Tropical and North American Bees
title_sort variation in membrane composition associated with body mass and body temperature in tropical and north american bees
publishDate 2013
url http://hdl.handle.net/10393/24082
work_keys_str_mv AT rodriguezenrique variationinmembranecompositionassociatedwithbodymassandbodytemperatureintropicalandnorthamericanbees
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