Effect of environmental temperature on the phase properties and lipid composition of flight muscle mitochondria of Schistocerca gregaria

Abstract The phase properties and composition of flight muscle mitochondrial membranes were determined in adult male Schistocerca gregaria , acclimated for one month at 31°C and 45°C. Wide angle X-ray diffraction procedures demonstrated a difference of 5°C in the lipid phase trasition temperatures of whole mitochondrial membrane preparations from the two groups of insects; the higher transition temperature was recorded for insects acclimated at 45°C. No statistically significant differences were observed in the ratios of protein:lipid, protein:phospholipid and cholesterol:phospholipid between mitochondria from 31°C- and 45°C-acclimated insects. Elevated temperature also resulted in depressed levels of phosphatidylethanolamine and increased levels of phosphatidylcholine with other phospholipid species remaining unchanged. No differences were observed in the fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid extract.