LAUSR

Abstract Lipophorin transports the hydrophobic molecule from origin to destination in time specific manner. Here, we investigate the hydrocarbon composition in the lipophorin during day 2 of pupal silkworm, Bombyx mori. Lipophorin was isolated from hemolymph by immunoprecipitation; lipid extracted and analyzed in GC-MS, resulting in seventeen compounds including eight hydrocarbons. Which were searched with the Pherobase (Pheromone database) and functional roles analysed. All hydrocarbons denoted as a pheromone except pentatriacontane in lepidopteron insects. Other hand, hydrocarbons such as hexadecane, nonadecane, undecane and hexacosane specifically refer as an attractant, additionally heptacosane, octacosane and docosane indicate as an allomone in non-lepidopteron insects. As well as, docosane and undecane perform as kairomone. Identified pheromone interaction with lipophorin was analysed by molecular docking and shows the best binding score. All hydrocarbons bound in a lipid binding pocket, most of these sharing the same binding sites for hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Overall findings elucidated that lipophorin associated with different hydrocarbons by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, and each of the hydrocarbon having various functional roles.