THE CONVERSION OF FAT TO CARBOHYDRATE DURING EMBRYONATION OF ASCARIS EGGS

Abstract

While ascaris eggs developed to the vermiform stage (10 days) both lipids and carbohydrates (glycogen and trehalose) decreased in amount. During the next 15 days, in which the embryo became infective, lipids continued to decrease, but at a greater rate, whereas carbohydrate was completely resynthesized. Examination of the possible sources of the required carbon revealed that protein, non-protein nitrogenous compounds, phosphorus compounds, metabolic acids, glycerol, and volatile acids occurring in the triglycerides were not adequate and that carbon dioxide was not extensively fixed. Direct evidence for the conversion of triglyceride acids to carbohydrate was furnished by the increase in lipid-free dry weight, which corresponded closely with the increase in carbohydrate. Moreover, the amount of lipid carbon which disappeared was equal to the sum of the carbon dioxide and carbohydrate carbon which appeared, and oxygen consumption was insufficient to account for the complete combustion of lipid carbon. It was concluded that the carbon of partially oxidized fragments of fatty acids, possibly acetylcoenzyme A, was incorporated into glycogen and trehalose, and hence that ascaris eggs in this stage of their development were able to bring about a net conversion of fat to carbohydrate.