Choline Metabolism in Insects

TLDR: The chapter considers only the choline-containing lipids, but in almost all cases a fairly complete analysis of the different phospholipid types has been carried out, and this may be obtained by consulting the appropriate reference.

Abstract: Publisher Summary The importance of choline in the metabolic processes of vertebrates has been established for many years. Nutritional studies with animals fed on low protein and high fat regimes have demonstrated that large amounts of choline are required in the diet if normal growth is to be maintained and fatty infiltration of the liver prevented. In insects, various aspects of choline metabolism have been looked at in differing detail. The cholinergic system has received a great deal of attention because of its importance in relation to the mode of action of organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. The composition of insect phospholipids has been analyzed and results from a large number of species have accumulated over the past few years. The chapter considers only the choline-containing lipids, but in almost all cases a fairly complete analysis of the different phospholipid types has been carried out, and this may be obtained by consulting the appropriate reference. A number of studies have been made following the change of phospholipid pattern during development, but little has been achieved in understanding the metabolic role of the phospholipid.