Torulene
Encyclopedia
Torulene
(3',4'-didehydro-β,γ-carotene) is a carotene
(a hydrocarbon carotenoid
) which is notable for being synthesized by red pea aphid
s (Acyrthosiphon pisum), imparting the natural red color to the aphids, which aids in their camouflage and escape from predation. The aphids have gained the ability to synthesize torulene by horizontal gene transfer
of a number of genes for carotenoid synthesis, apparently from fungi. Plants, fungi,and microorganisms can sythesize carotenoids, but torulene made by pea aphids is the only carotenoid known to be synthesized by an organism in the animal kingdom.
Torulene
Torulene is a carotene which is notable for being synthesized by red pea aphids , imparting the natural red color to the aphids, which aids in their camouflage and escape from predation...
(3',4'-didehydro-β,γ-carotene) is a carotene
Carotene
The term carotene is used for several related unsaturated hydrocarbon substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals. Carotene is an orange photosynthetic pigment important for photosynthesis. Carotenes are all coloured to the human eye...
(a hydrocarbon carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
) which is notable for being synthesized by red pea aphid
Pea aphid
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum is a sap-sucking insect in the Aphididae family. It feeds on severals species of legumes worldwide, including forage crops such as pea, clover, alfalfa, and broad bean, and ranks among the aphid species of major agronomical importance.The pea aphid is a model...
s (Acyrthosiphon pisum), imparting the natural red color to the aphids, which aids in their camouflage and escape from predation. The aphids have gained the ability to synthesize torulene by horizontal gene transfer
Horizontal gene transfer
Horizontal gene transfer , also lateral gene transfer , is any process in which an organism incorporates genetic material from another organism without being the offspring of that organism...
of a number of genes for carotenoid synthesis, apparently from fungi. Plants, fungi,and microorganisms can sythesize carotenoids, but torulene made by pea aphids is the only carotenoid known to be synthesized by an organism in the animal kingdom.