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Neglected Very Long-Chain Hydrocarbons and the Incorporation of Body Surface Area Metrics Reveal Novel Perspectives for Cuticular Profile Analysis in Insects

Golian, Marek ; Bien, Tanja ; Schmelzle, Sebastian ; Esparza-Mora, Margy Alejandra ; McMahon, Dino Peter ; Dreisewerd, Klaus ; Buellesbach, Jan (2022)
Neglected Very Long-Chain Hydrocarbons and the Incorporation of Body Surface Area Metrics Reveal Novel Perspectives for Cuticular Profile Analysis in Insects.
In: Insects, 2022, 13 (1)
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00020525
Artikel, Zweitveröffentlichung, Verlagsversion

Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)

The waxy layer covering the surface of most terrestrial insects is mainly composed of non-polar lipids termed cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). These have a long research history as important dual traits for both desiccation prevention and chemical communication. We analyzed CHC profiles of seven species of the insect order Blattodea (termites and cockroaches) with the most commonly applied chromatographic method, gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the more novel approach of silver-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (Ag-LDI-MS). Comparing these two analytical methods, we demonstrated that the conventional GC-MS approach does not provide enough information on the entire CHC profile range in the tested species. Ag-LDI-MS was able to detect very long-chain CHCs ranging up to C58, which remained undetected when solely relying on standard GC-MS analysis. Additionally, we measured the body surface areas of each tested species applying 3D scanning technology to assess their respective CHC amounts per mm². When adjusting for body surface areas, proportional CHC quantity distributions shifted considerably between our studied species, suggesting the importance of including this factor when conducting quantitative CHC comparisons, particularly in insects that vary substantially in body size. Abstract

Most of our knowledge on insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) stems from analytical techniques based on gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, this method has its limits under standard conditions, particularly in detecting compounds beyond a chain length of around C40. Here, we compare the CHC chain length range detectable by GC-MS with the range assessed by silver-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (Ag-LDI-MS), a novel and rarely applied technique on insect CHCs, in seven species of the order Blattodea. For all tested species, we unveiled a considerable range of very long-chain CHCs up to C58, which are not detectable by standard GC-MS technology. This indicates that general studies on insect CHCs may frequently miss compounds in this range, and we encourage future studies to implement analytical techniques extending the conventionally accessed chain length range. Furthermore, we incorporate 3D scanned insect body surface areas as an additional factor for the comparative quantification of extracted CHC amounts between our study species. CHC quantity distributions differed considerably when adjusted for body surface areas as opposed to directly assessing extracted CHC amounts, suggesting that a more accurate evaluation of relative CHC quantities can be achieved by taking body surface areas into account.

Typ des Eintrags: Artikel
Erschienen: 2022
Autor(en): Golian, Marek ; Bien, Tanja ; Schmelzle, Sebastian ; Esparza-Mora, Margy Alejandra ; McMahon, Dino Peter ; Dreisewerd, Klaus ; Buellesbach, Jan
Art des Eintrags: Zweitveröffentlichung
Titel: Neglected Very Long-Chain Hydrocarbons and the Incorporation of Body Surface Area Metrics Reveal Novel Perspectives for Cuticular Profile Analysis in Insects
Sprache: Englisch
Publikationsjahr: 2022
Publikationsdatum der Erstveröffentlichung: 2022
Verlag: MDPI
Titel der Zeitschrift, Zeitung oder Schriftenreihe: Insects
Jahrgang/Volume einer Zeitschrift: 13
(Heft-)Nummer: 1
Kollation: 13 Seiten
DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00020525
URL / URN: https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/20525
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Herkunft: Zweitveröffentlichung DeepGreen
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract):

The waxy layer covering the surface of most terrestrial insects is mainly composed of non-polar lipids termed cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). These have a long research history as important dual traits for both desiccation prevention and chemical communication. We analyzed CHC profiles of seven species of the insect order Blattodea (termites and cockroaches) with the most commonly applied chromatographic method, gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the more novel approach of silver-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (Ag-LDI-MS). Comparing these two analytical methods, we demonstrated that the conventional GC-MS approach does not provide enough information on the entire CHC profile range in the tested species. Ag-LDI-MS was able to detect very long-chain CHCs ranging up to C58, which remained undetected when solely relying on standard GC-MS analysis. Additionally, we measured the body surface areas of each tested species applying 3D scanning technology to assess their respective CHC amounts per mm². When adjusting for body surface areas, proportional CHC quantity distributions shifted considerably between our studied species, suggesting the importance of including this factor when conducting quantitative CHC comparisons, particularly in insects that vary substantially in body size. Abstract

Most of our knowledge on insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) stems from analytical techniques based on gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, this method has its limits under standard conditions, particularly in detecting compounds beyond a chain length of around C40. Here, we compare the CHC chain length range detectable by GC-MS with the range assessed by silver-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (Ag-LDI-MS), a novel and rarely applied technique on insect CHCs, in seven species of the order Blattodea. For all tested species, we unveiled a considerable range of very long-chain CHCs up to C58, which are not detectable by standard GC-MS technology. This indicates that general studies on insect CHCs may frequently miss compounds in this range, and we encourage future studies to implement analytical techniques extending the conventionally accessed chain length range. Furthermore, we incorporate 3D scanned insect body surface areas as an additional factor for the comparative quantification of extracted CHC amounts between our study species. CHC quantity distributions differed considerably when adjusted for body surface areas as opposed to directly assessing extracted CHC amounts, suggesting that a more accurate evaluation of relative CHC quantities can be achieved by taking body surface areas into account.

Freie Schlagworte: cuticular hydrocarbons, Blattodea, GC-MS, Ag-LDI-MS, chemical ecology
Status: Verlagsversion
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-205250
Sachgruppe der Dewey Dezimalklassifikatin (DDC): 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 570 Biowissenschaften, Biologie
Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): 10 Fachbereich Biologie
10 Fachbereich Biologie > Ecological Networks
Hinterlegungsdatum: 13 Apr 2022 11:10
Letzte Änderung: 14 Apr 2022 05:11
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