脂质是在昆虫生理学中起若干重要作用的多种化合物组。在生物脂质中,基本类别包括脂肪酰基结构,重要成员是脂肪酸(FA)。它们在昆虫生理学中起着几个关键功能;它们被用作飞行的能量来源,并在昆虫免疫系统中起着关键作用。已知昆虫角质层中存在的FA表现出抗菌和抗真菌活性,并被认为是潜在的杀虫剂。最丰富的脂类家族是甘油脂,具有许多细胞功能,包括能量储存,细胞和细胞器的结构分隔,和调节生理过程所需的重要信号活动(即,增长,发展,繁殖,滞育,和越冬)。磷脂也是所有细胞膜高度多样化的关键成分;它们可以改变细胞成分以响应快速冷硬化(RCH)。增强膜的流动性和提高在低温下的存活率。鞘脂是重要的结构和信号生物活性化合物,主要在膜中检测到。昆虫是甾醇营养缺陷型:它们没有基因,它编码将法尼基焦磷酸转化为角鲨烯的酶。同样,对哺乳动物来说,昆虫中类固醇的产生受细胞色素P450酶的调节,该酶将固醇(主要是胆固醇)转化为激素活性类固醇。昆虫的主要蜕皮激素是20-羟基蜕皮激素,胆固醇是必需的前体;然而,已注意到该规则的一些豁免。这篇手稿还回顾了prenol脂质的作用,类异戊二烯,脂质维生素,聚酮化合物,和蜡在昆虫的重要过程中。
Lipids are a diverse group of compounds that play several important roles in insect physiology. Among biological lipids, the fundamental category comprises fatty acyl structures, with significant members being fatty acids (FAs). They play several crucial functions in insect physiology; they are used as the source of energy for flight and play key roles in the insect immune system. The FAs present in the insect cuticle are known to demonstrate antibacterial and antifungal activity and are considered as potential insecticides. The most abundant family of lipids are the glycerolipids, with numerous cellular functions including storage of energy, structural compartmentation of cells and organelles, and important signaling activities required for regulation of physiological processes (i.e., growth, development, reproduction, diapause, and overwintering). The phospholipids are also highly diversified key components of all cell membranes; they can modify cellular components in response to rapid cold-hardening (RCH), enhancing membrane fluidity and improving survival at low temperatures. The sphingolipids are important structural and signaling bioactive compounds, mostly detected in membranes.Insects are sterol-auxotrophs: they do not have genes, which code enzymes converting farnesyl pyrophosphate to squalene. Similarly, to mammals, the production of steroids in insects is regulated by cytochrome P450 enzymes that convert sterols (mostly cholesterol) to hormonally active steroids. The major molting hormone in insects is 20-hydroxyecdysone, and cholesterol is the required precursor; however, several exemptions from this rule have been noted. This manuscript also reviews the roles of prenol lipids,
isoprenoids, lipid vitamins, polyketides, and waxes in the vital processes of insects.