The role of carotenoids and their derivatives in mediating interactions between insects and their environment

摘要: Carotenoids are long conjugated isoprenoid molecules derived mainly from plants and microbial organisms. They highly diverse, with over 700 identified structures, widespread in nature. In addition to their fundamental roles as light-harvesting photosynthesis, carotenoids serve a variety of functions including visual colouring pigments, antioxidants hormone precursors. Although the relatively well studied vertebrates, studies severely lacking insect systems. There is particular dearth knowledge on how move among trophic levels, influence multitrophic interactions affect evolutionary outcomes. This review explores known potential that derivatives have mediating ecological interaction insects environment. Throughout review, we highlight physiology might be linked processes.