Insect Lipidomics: Advances, Applications, and Physiological Insights.

Abstract

Lipidomics, a specialized branch of metabolomics, investigates the diversity and functionality of lipids in biological systems. Lipids serve crucial roles in energy storage, membrane composition, and environmental acclimation in insects, underpinning processes such as development and stress responses. Advances in analytical technologies, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), have enabled precise identification and quantification of lipid species, providing unprecedented insights into lipid metabolism and dynamics. Key lipid classes, including triacylglycerols and phospholipids, exhibit structural and functional versatility, adapting to environmental pressures through mechanisms like homeoviscous adaptation. These dynamic lipid responses are essential for maintaining cellular and cuticular integrity and functionality under stress. By exploring lipid diversity and adaptations, lipidomics offers valuable perspectives on insect physiology, survival strategies, and evolutionary ecology. This chapter summarizes methods used to study insect lipidomes and highlights comparative lipidomic studies that have advanced our understanding of insect biology.