The Determination of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) Types of Sialic Acids in Hematopoietic Organ of The Silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

In insects, for a long time, it was generally accepted that members of insect do not have sialic acids which are typical terminal glycans of cells surface glycolipids and glycoproteins, and thus especially important in cell interactions and signaling events. Here, it was reported the occurrence of sialic acid known the most common in all organisms (Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc) in hematopoietic organ of larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Histochemical and cytochemical analysis of hematopoietic organ sections with the FITC- and Gold-conjugated lectins (Limulus polyphemus, LPA) showed the presence of sialic acids in hematopoietic organ. The results provide further evidence for the existence of sialic acids in insects.