Download or read book Molecular Physiology of Insect Low Temperature Stress Responses written by Michael Robert Michaud and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A metabolomic analysis of the freeze tolerant midge, Belgica antarctica, revealed that freezing increased a number of different polyols in whole-body extracts, incuding glycerol, mannitol, and erythritol. Freezing also increased alanine, asparagine, and glycine. In addition, the frozen midge larvae accumulated Krebs cycle intermediates, indicating that aerobic respiration is considerably slowed. Membrane involvement in freezing was not conclusively supported, although there was a reduction in oleic acid levels. A comparison of the metabolic responses of this midge to heat, freezing and desiccation revealed that freezing and desiccation produced similar results, supporting the hypothesis that the cellular response to these two stressors is related.