J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 265, Issue 3, 1381-1387, Jan, 1990
Sex pheromone biosynthetic pathway in Spodoptera littoralis and its activation by a neurohormone
T Martinez, G Fabrias and F Camps
Departmento de Quimica Organica Biologica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Barcelona, Spain.
Deuterium-labeled fatty acids have been used to elucidate the sex pheromone
biosynthetic pathway in Spodoptera littoralis. Label from palmitic acid was
incorporated during the scotophase into all the pheromone acetates and
their corresponding fatty acyl intermediates. (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl
acetate, the major component of the pheromone blend, is synthesized from
palmitic acid via tetradecanoic acid, which, by the action of a specific
(E)-11 desaturase and subsequently a (Z)-9 desaturase, is converted into
(Z,E)-9,11- tetradecadienoate. By further reduction and acetylation, this
compound leads to the dienne acetate. Deuterated precursors applied to the
pheromone gland during the photophase were also incorporated into the
pheromone. The percentage of labeled (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate
relative to natural compound was significantly higher during the light
period. Label incorporation from different intermediates into the pheromone
was stimulated by injection of brain-subesophageal ganglion extract during
the photophase. The influence of the pheromone biosynthesis-activating
neuropeptide on the biosynthetic pathway is discussed.
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