Tyrosine-4-O-β-glucoside in the mediterranean fruit-fly Ceratitis capitata

Synthesis and biological activities of analogs of D-glucosyl-l-tyrosine, a humoral factor that stimulates transcription of the acyl-CoA binding protein in the pheromone gland of the Silkmoth, Bombyx mori

beta-d-Glucosyl-O-l-tyrosine (1) is a humoral factor that stimulates transcription of the acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) in the pheromone gland of the Silkmoth, Bombyx mori. This paper describes stereoselective synthesis of five analogs that changed the sugar and/or amino acid part in 1 and their stimulatory activities on the ACBP transcription in the pheromone gland of B. mori. Among the analogs tested, beta-d-galactosyl-O-l-tyrosine showed a 1/5 potency compared to the activity of 1.

Isolation and characterization of a humoral factor that stimulates transcription of the acyl-CoA-binding protein in the pheromone gland of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori

Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) is a highly conserved 10-kDa intracellular lipid-binding protein that binds straight-chain (C14-C22) acyl-CoA esters with high affinity and is expressed in a wide variety of species ranging from yeast to mammals. Functionally, ACBP can act as an acyl-CoA carrier or as an acyl-CoA pool maker within the cell. Much work on the biochemical properties regarding the ACBP has been performed using various vertebrate and plant tissues, as well as different types of cells in culture, the regulatory mechanisms underlying ACBP gene expression have remained poorly understood. By exploiting the unique sex pheromone production system in the moth pheromone gland (PG), we report that transcription of a specific ACBP termed pheromone gland ACBP is triggered by a hemolymph-based humoral factor. Following purification and structure elucidation by means of high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NMR analyses, in conjunction with stereochemical analyses using acid hydrolysates, the humoral factor was identified to be beta-D-glucosyl-O-L-tyrosine. Examination of the hemolymph titers during development revealed that the amount of beta-D-glucosyl-O-L-tyrosine dramatically rose prior to eclosion and reached a maximum of 5 mg/ml (about 1 mg/pupa) on the day preceding eclosion, which was consistent with the effective dose of beta-D-glucosyl-O-L-tyrosine in stimulating pheromone gland ACBP transcription in vivo. Furthermore, in vitro assays using trimmed PG indicated that beta-D-glucosyl-O-L-tyrosine acts directly on the PG. These results provide the first evidence that transcription of some ACBPs can be triggered by specific humoral factors.

Isolation and identification of free amino acids as crystalline N-t-butyloxycarbonyl, O-phenacyl derivatives

A general and efficient method for the quantitative isolation of free amino acids from natural sources and their identification as crystalline N-t-butyloxycarbonyl amino acid phenacyl esters is described. The applicability of this method is illustrated in the isolation and characterization of major free amino acids from the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata.