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Polyunsaturated monoglycerides and a pregnadiene in defensive glands of the water beetle Agabus affinis

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Lipids

Abstract

In addition to the C21 steroid 15α-hydroxypregna-4,6-dien-3,20-dione, four 1- or 2-acylated polyunsaturated monoglycerides, 1- or 2-(cis-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoyl)-glycerol and 1- or 2-(cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoyl)glycerol were identified as constituents of the prothoracic defensive gland secretion of the dytiscid beetle Agabus affinis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of trimethylsilylated gland extracts. In a feeding assay with minnows, synthetic samples of the two 2-acylated monoglycerides showed only a weak activity as a feeding deterrent. For that reason, other possible functions of the monoglycerides are discussed, such as roles as emulsifiers of cannabimimetics.

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Abbreviations

1- or 2-ara-gl:

1- or 2-(cis-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoyl)glycerol (1- or 2-arachidonoylglycerol)

1- or 2-epa-gl:

1- or 2-(cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoyl)glycerol

GC-MS:

gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

TMS:

trimethylsilyl

TMSO:

trimethylsilyloxy-

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl Tierökologie II, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Otmar Schaaf & Konrad Dettner

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  1. Otmar Schaaf
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  2. Konrad Dettner
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Correspondence to Konrad Dettner.

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Schaaf, O., Dettner, K. Polyunsaturated monoglycerides and a pregnadiene in defensive glands of the water beetle Agabus affinis . Lipids 35, 543–550 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-554-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-554-6

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