Meeting Abstract

S9.3-1  Tuesday, Jan. 7 13:30  Physiological, biochemical, and molecular bases of a nutrient allocation trade-off that underlies a life history trade-off in a wing-polymorphic cricket ZERA, A.J.; University of Nebraska azera1@unl.edu

Mechanisms controlling nutrient allocation trade-offs that underlie life history trade-offs have been an important topic of evolutionary and physiological research during the past few decades. Detailed studies of lipid and protein metabolism in morphs of wing-polymorphic crickets that trade-off flight capability and egg production have contributed significantly to this area of research Previous radiotracer and enzymological studies identifying morph-specific differences in lipid and protein biosynthesis, degradation, and allocation, in the context of production of lipid flight fuel and ovarian protein and lipid, will be briefly reviewed. Recent and ongoing transcriptome studies (RNA-Seq) which have identified morph differences in the expression of genes involved glyceride biosynthesis and hormone signaling will also be discussed. Studies mentioned above have largely been conducted on a single diet. Ongoing multi-diet studies of morph-specific intermediary metabolism conducted in the context of the geometric framework will also be discussed. Research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation