Glucose, Trehalose and Glycogen in Porrocaecum decipiens Larvæ

Abstract

RECENT proof that trehalose, formerly regarded as a plant sugar, is an important constituent of a nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides ¹, and various insects^2–4 prompted the examination of several parasitic and free-living invertebrates for this non-reducing disaccharide. Qualitative tests suggested that mature larvæ (30–45 mm.) of Porrocaecum decipiens (Nematoda) contained unusually large amounts. More extensive analyses were therefore performed on 108 gm. of larvæ collected from codfish muscle. Glucose and trehalose were extracted from these with several changes of cold 70 per cent ethanol. The ethanolic extracts were concentrated and washed with ether, after which trehalose was isolated¹. The yield was 1.39 per cent of fresh tissue weight, or 6.0 per cent of the dry weight.