Influence of temperature on the phospholipid metabolism of various tissues from the crab Carcinus maenas

Abstract 1. 1. The values of different classes of phosphatides extracted from muscle, gills and hepatopancreas of C. maenas are determined. 2. 2. A slight increase of the PE concentration and a slight decrease of the PC content are found at lower temperatures. 3. 3. Incorporation of 32 P isotope into phospholipids from gills, hepatopancreas and muscle isolated from crab Carcinus maenas is analysed. 4. 4. Velocity of total phosphatide renewal rises when the environmental temperature is increased. 5. 5. The velocity of synthesis of certain classes of phospholipids is especially modified by the thermal stress. At lower temperature (7°C), the velocity of renewal of phosphatidic acid (PA) is increased whereas the “turnover” of sphingomyelin (SP) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) is decreased. 6. 6. It is suggested that the modifications reported here for crab Carcinus maenas can play a role in adapting the organism to seasonal fluctuations in environmental temperatures.