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Rodríguez-Leyva E, García-Pascual E, González-Chávez MM, Méndez-Gallegos SDJ, Morales-Rueda JA, Posadas-Hurtado JC, Bravo-Vinaja Á, Franco-Vega A. Interactions of Opuntia ficus-indica with Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) through the Study of Their Volatile Compounds. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:963. [PMID: 38611492 PMCID: PMC11013929 DOI: 10.3390/plants13070963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Opuntia ficus-indica has always interacted with many phytophagous insects; two of them are Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae. Fine cochineal (D. coccus) is produced to extract carminic acid, and D. opuntiae, or wild cochineal, is an invasive pest of O. ficus-indica in more than 20 countries around the world. Despite the economic and environmental relevance of this cactus, D. opuntiae, and D. coccus, there are few studies that have explored volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from the plant-insect interaction. The aim of this work was to determine the VOCs produced by D. coccus and D. opuntiae and to identify different VOCs in cladodes infested by each Dactylopius species. The VOCs (essential oils) were obtained by hydrodistillation and identified by GC-MS. A total of 66 VOCs from both Dactylopius species were identified, and 125 from the Esmeralda and Rojo Pelón cultivars infested by D. coccus and D. opuntiae, respectively, were determined. Differential VOC production due to infestation by each Dactylopius species was also found. Some changes in methyl salicylate, terpenes such as linalool, or the alcohol p-vinylguaiacol were related to Dactylopius feeding on the cladodes of their respective cultivars. Changes in these VOCs and their probable role in plant defense mechanisms should receive more attention because this knowledge could improve D. coccus rearing or its inclusion in breeding programs for D. opuntiae control in regions where it is a key pest of O. ficus-indica.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esperanza García-Pascual
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78622, Mexico; (E.G.-P.); (Á.B.-V.)
| | - Marco M. González-Chávez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78210, Mexico; (J.C.P.-H.); (A.F.-V.)
| | - Santiago de J. Méndez-Gallegos
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78622, Mexico; (E.G.-P.); (Á.B.-V.)
| | - Juan A. Morales-Rueda
- Viscoelabs, Materials Research Center, Librado Rivera 390, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78200, Mexico;
| | - Juan C. Posadas-Hurtado
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78210, Mexico; (J.C.P.-H.); (A.F.-V.)
| | - Ángel Bravo-Vinaja
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78622, Mexico; (E.G.-P.); (Á.B.-V.)
| | - Avelina Franco-Vega
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosi C.P. 78210, Mexico; (J.C.P.-H.); (A.F.-V.)
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Ashok K, Bhargava CN, Asokan R, Pradeep C, Pradhan SK, Kennedy JS, Balasubramani V, Murugan M, Jayakanthan M, Geethalakshmi V, Manamohan M. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated editing of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide ( PBAN) gene disrupts mating in the Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). 3 Biotech 2023; 13:370. [PMID: 37849767 PMCID: PMC10577122 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03798-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a globally important invasive pest, primarily on corn, causing severe yield loss. Overuse of synthetic chemicals has caused significant ecological harm, and in many instances control has failed. Therefore, developing efficient, environmentally friendly substitutes for sustainable management of this pest is of high priority. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing causes site-specific mutations that typically result in loss-of-function of the target gene. In this regard, identifying key genes that govern the reproduction of S. frugiperda and finding ways to introduce mutations in the key genes is very important for successfully managing this pest. In this study, the pheromone biosynthesis activator neuropeptide (PBAN) gene of S. frugiperda was cloned and tested for its function via a loss-of-function approach using CRISPR/Cas9. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex (single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the PBAN gene + Cas9 protein) was validated through in vitro restriction assay followed by embryonic microinjection into the G0 stage for in vivo editing of the target gene. Specific suppression of PBAN by CRISPR/Cas9 in females significantly affected mating. Mating studies between wild males and mutant females resulted in no fecundity. This was in contrast to when mutant males were crossed with wild females, which resulted in reduced fecundity. These results suggest that mating disruption is more robust where PBAN is edited in females. The behavioural bioassay using an olfactometer revealed that mutant females were less attractive to wild males compared to wild females. This study is the first of its kind, supporting CRISPR/Cas9 mediating editing of the PBAN gene disrupting mating in S. frugiperda. Understanding the potential use of these molecular techniques may help develop novel management strategies that target other key functional genes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03798-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karuppannasamy Ashok
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka India
- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu India
| | - Chikmagalur Nagaraja Bhargava
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka India
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka India
| | - Ramasamy Asokan
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka India
| | - Chalapathi Pradeep
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka India
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka India
| | - Sanjay Kumar Pradhan
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka India
- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka India
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
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Cha WH, Kim B, Lee DW. Functional Analysis of Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide Receptor Isoforms in Maruca vitrata. Cells 2023; 12:1410. [PMID: 37408245 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect sex pheromones are volatile chemicals that induce mating behavior between conspecific individuals. In moths, sex pheromone biosynthesis is initiated when pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) synthesized in the suboesophageal ganglion binds to its receptor on the epithelial cell membrane of the pheromone gland. To investigate the function of PBAN receptor (PBANR), we identified two PBANR isoforms, MviPBANR-B and MviPBANR-C, in the pheromone glands of Maruca vitrata. These two genes belong to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and have differences in the C-terminus but share a 7-transmembrane region and GPCR family 1 signature. These isoforms were expressed in all developmental stages and adult tissues. MviPBANR-C had the highest expression level in pheromone glands among the examined tissues. Through in vitro heterologous expression in HeLa cell lines, only MviPBANR-C-transfected cells responded to MviPBAN (≥5 µM MviPBAN), inducing Ca2+ influx. Sex pheromone production and mating behavior were investigated using gas chromatography and a bioassay after MviPBANR-C suppression by RNA interference, which resulted in the major sex pheromone component, E10E12-16:Ald, being quantitatively reduced compared to the control, thereby decreasing the mating rate. Our findings indicate that MviPBANR-C is involved in the signal transduction of sex pheromone biosynthesis in M. vitrata and that the C-terminal tail plays an important role in its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wook Hyun Cha
- Department of SmartBio, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea
| | - Boyun Kim
- Department of SmartBio, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Weon Lee
- Department of SmartBio, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea
- Metabolomics Research Center for Functional Materials, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea
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Cha WH, Lee DW. Suppression of pheromone biosynthesis and mating behavior by RNA interference of pheromone gland-specific fatty acyl reductase in Maruca vitrata. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1135-1144. [PMID: 34971127 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In moths, various enzymes, such as fatty acid synthases, fatty acyl desaturases, and fatty acyl reductases (FARs), are involved in pheromone biosynthesis. In particular, pheromone gland-specific FAR (pgFAR) plays an important role in converting the functional group from carboxylic to alcohol during pheromone biosynthesis. A novel pgFAR of Maruca vitrata, Mvi-pgFAR, was identified through transcriptome sequencing of its pheromone gland. To investigate the involvement of Mvi-pgFAR in pheromone biosynthesis, Mvi-pgFAR was cloned from the pheromone gland and suppressed by RNA interference (RNAi). Mvi-pgFAR harbored several conserved motifs related to NAD(P)H-binding, N-glycosylation, and adenosine / guanosine triphosphate binding. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Mvi-pgFAR with other lepidopteran pgFARs formed an independent clade. Mvi-pgFAR was specifically expressed only in the pheromone gland. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the diurnal expression levels of Mvi-pgFAR in the pheromone gland were the highest at 2 h before the scotophase. After primarily confirming Mvi-pgFAR suppression by RNAi, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal (E10E12-16:Ald), a major sex pheromone component, was quantified by gas chromatography. When Mvi-pgFAR was successfully suppressed, E10E12-16:Ald production was reduced by up to half of that of the control, and the mating rate was subsequently decreased. Our results demonstrate that Mvi-pgFAR downregulation can suppress mating behavior by changing the relative sex pheromone component ratio, suggesting that Mvi-pgFAR can be used as a novel control target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wook Hyun Cha
- Department of Biosafety, Kyungsung University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Weon Lee
- Department of Biosafety, Kyungsung University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Metabolomics Research Center for Functional Materials, Kyungsung University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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Park Y, Vatanparast M. Suppression of PBAN receptor expression reduces fecundity in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 110:e21897. [PMID: 35368094 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, native to the tropical and subtropical areas of the American continent is one of the world's most destructive insect pests. In most insects, sex pheromone production is initiated following the activation of a pheromone-biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) receptor, which belongs to G protein-coupled receptor. We explored expression level of S. frugiperda PBAN receptor (Sf-PBANr) gene and validated the physiological function by assessing the fecundity of adult females subjected to its specific RNA interference (RNAi). Sf-PBANr was predicted from a transcriptome of S. frugiperda. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay showed its expression in all developmental stages of S. frugiperda. Specific suppression of Sf-PBANr by RNAi in either sex significantly reduced the total number of laid eggs per adult female. Matings between both RNAi-treated males and female resulted in 63.3% reduction in fecundity. In contrast, the RNAi effect was less 47.5%-49.5% at the matings from single-parent RNAi treatment. These results suggest that the Sf-PBANr is associated with female of S. frugiperda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjin Park
- Plant Quarantine Technology Center, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammad Vatanparast
- Plant Quarantine Technology Center, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
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Ahmed S, Roy MC, Al Baki MA, Jung JK, Lee D, Kim Y. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis against sex pheromone biosynthesis leads to loss of female attractiveness in Spodoptera exigua, an insect pestt. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259322. [PMID: 34788305 PMCID: PMC8598075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Virgin female moths are known to release sex pheromones to attract conspecific males. Accurate sex pheromones are required for their chemical communication. Sex pheromones of Spodoptera exigua, a lepidopteran insect, contain unsaturated fatty acid derivatives having a double bond at the 12th carbon position. A desaturase of S. exigua (SexiDES5) was proposed to have dual functions by forming double bonds at the 11th and 12th carbons to synthesize Z9,E12-tetradecedienoic acid, which could be acetylated to be a main sex pheromone component Z9,E12-tetradecenoic acetate (Z9E12-14:Ac). A deletion of SexiDES5 using CRISPR/Cas9 was generated and inbred to obtain homozygotes. Mutant females could not produce Z9E12-14:Ac along with Z9-14:Ac and Z11-14:Ac. Subsequently, pheromone extract of mutant females did not induce a sensory signal in male antennae. They failed to induce male mating behavior including hair pencil erection and orientation. In the field, these mutant females did not attract any males while control females attracted males. These results indicate that SexiDES5 can catalyze the desaturation at the 11th and 12th positions to produce sex pheromone components in S. exigua. This study also suggests an application of the genome editing technology to insect pest control by generating non-attractive female moths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabbir Ahmed
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
| | | | | | - Jin Kyo Jung
- Division of Crop Cultivation and Environment Research, Department of Central Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea
| | - Daeweon Lee
- Metabolomics Research Center for Functional Materials, Kyungsung University, Busan, Korea
| | - Yonggyun Kim
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
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Yao S, Zhou S, Li X, Liu X, Zhao W, Wei J, Du M, An S. Transcriptome Analysis of Ostrinia furnacalis Female Pheromone Gland: Esters Biosynthesis and Requirement for Mating Success. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:736906. [PMID: 34603212 PMCID: PMC8485726 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.736906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Female moths use sex pheromones to attract males, and corresponding regulatory mechanism underlying sex pheromone biosynthesis is species-dependent. However, the detailed mechanism involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis in Ostrinia furnacalis has not yet been fully addressed. In the present study, transcriptome sequencing of O. furnacalis pheromone glands screened a serials of candidate genes involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis. Our analysis showed that sex pheromone release in O. furnacalis females arrives its peak at the 2nd scotophase, consistent with its mating behavior. Pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) was confirmed to regulate sex pheromone biosynthesis, and Ca2+ is the secondary messenger of PBAN signaling in O. furnacalis. The functional analysis of candidate genes demonstrated that the decreased mRNA levels or activities of calcineurin (CaN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) led to significant decrease in sex pheromone production and female capability to attract males, as demonstrated by RNAi-mediated knockdown and pharmacological inhibitor assay. Most importantly, the activities of CaN and ACC depend on the activation of PBAN/PBANR/Ca2+. Furthermore, fatty-acyl reductase 14 was involved in PBAN-mediated sex pheromone biosynthesis. Altogether, our results demonstrated that PBAN regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis through PBANR/Ca2+/CaN/ACC pathway to promote sex pheromone biosynthesis in O. furnacalis and provided a reference for non-model organism to study neuropeptide signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jizhen Wei
- *Correspondence: Jizhen Wei, ; Shiheng An,
| | | | - Shiheng An
- *Correspondence: Jizhen Wei, ; Shiheng An,
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Huo Z, Liu Y, Yang J, Xie W, Wang S, Wu Q, Zhou X, Pang B, Zhang Y. Transcriptomic Analysis of Mating Responses in Bemisia tabaci MED Females. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11050308. [PMID: 32423081 PMCID: PMC7290661 DOI: 10.3390/insects11050308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mating triggers substantial changes in gene expression and leads to subsequent physiological and behavioral modifications. However, postmating transcriptomic changes responding to mating have not yet been fully understood. Here, we carried out RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis in the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED, to identify genes in females in response to mating. We compared mRNA expression in virgin and mated females at 24 h. As a result, 434 differentially expressed gene transcripts (DEGs) were identified between the mated and unmated groups, including 331 up- and 103 down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that many of these DEGs encode binding-related proteins and genes associated with longevity. An RT-qPCR validation study was consistent with our transcriptomic analysis (14/15). Specifically, expression of P450s (Cyp18a1 and Cyp4g68), ubiquitin-protein ligases (UBR5 and RNF123), Hsps (Hsp68 and Hsf), carboxylase (ACC-2), facilitated trehalose transporters (Tret1-2), transcription factor (phtf), and serine-protein kinase (TLK2) were significantly elevated in mated females throughout seven assay days. These combined results offer a glimpe of postmating molecular modifications to facilitate reproduction in B. tabaci females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Huo
- Research Center for Grassland Entomology, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China;
| | - Yating Liu
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
| | - Jinjian Yang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
| | - Wen Xie
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
| | - Shaoli Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
| | - Qingjun Wu
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, USA;
| | - Baoping Pang
- Research Center for Grassland Entomology, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China;
- Correspondence: (B.P.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-471-4318472 (B.P.); +86-010-82109518 (Y.Z.)
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.L.); (J.Y.); (W.X.); (S.W.); (Q.W.)
- Correspondence: (B.P.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-471-4318472 (B.P.); +86-010-82109518 (Y.Z.)
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Multi-Functional Desaturases in Two Spodoptera Moths with ∆11 and ∆12 Desaturation Activities. J Chem Ecol 2019; 45:378-387. [PMID: 30937603 PMCID: PMC6476860 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-019-01067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, uses (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate as the major component of its sex pheromone. Previous isotope-labeling experiments demonstrated an unusual ∆12 desaturase activity involved in the biosynthesis of this compound; however, the putative ∆12 desaturase gene has not been reported to date. In the present study, we confirmed this ∆12 desaturation pathway by in vivo labeling experiments, and characterized candidate desaturase genes in a yeast heterologous expression system. We demonstrated that a pheromone gland-specific desaturase, SexiDes5, uses palmitic acid and the subsequently chain-shortened product (Z)-9-tetradecenoic acid as substrates to produce (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienoic acids, respectively. In addition, the homologous desaturase SlitDes5 from the congeneric Spodoptera litura had analogous functions.
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Tupec M, Buček A, Valterová I, Pichová I. Biotechnological potential of insect fatty acid-modifying enzymes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 72:387-403. [PMID: 28742527 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2017-0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
There are more than one million described insect species. This species richness is reflected in the diversity of insect metabolic processes. In particular, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as defensive compounds and chemical signals, encompasses an extraordinarily wide range of chemicals that are generally unparalleled among natural products from other organisms. Insect genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes thus offer a valuable resource for discovery of novel enzymes with potential for biotechnological applications. Here, we focus on fatty acid (FA) metabolism-related enzymes, notably the fatty acyl desaturases and fatty acyl reductases involved in the biosynthesis of FA-derived pheromones. Research on insect pheromone-biosynthetic enzymes, which exhibit diverse enzymatic properties, has the potential to broaden the understanding of enzyme specificity determinants and contribute to engineering of enzymes with desired properties for biotechnological production of FA derivatives. Additionally, the application of such pheromone-biosynthetic enzymes represents an environmentally friendly and economic alternative to the chemical synthesis of pheromones that are used in insect pest management strategies.
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Jurenka R. Regulation of pheromone biosynthesis in moths. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 24:29-35. [PMID: 29208220 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Female moths release sex pheromones for attracting males from a distance. Most moths are nocturnal so there is a periodicity to the release of sex pheromone. The temporal release of sex pheromone in most moths is regulated by calling behavior and by the biosynthesis of sex pheromone. In most moths, biosynthesis occurs in the pheromone gland and is controlled by the neuropeptide PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide). PBAN is produced in the subesophageal ganglion and released into circulation where it travels to the pheromone gland to activate pheromone biosynthesis. The G-protein coupled receptor that binds PBAN has been identified as well as aspects of signal transduction to activate the biosynthetic pathway. This review will highlight recent advances in the study of regulation of pheromone biosynthesis in moths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Jurenka
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Du M, Liu X, Ma N, Liu X, Wei J, Yin X, Zhou S, Rafaeli A, Song Q, An S. Calcineurin-mediated Dephosphorylation of Acetyl-coA Carboxylase is Required for Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN)-induced Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera. Mol Cell Proteomics 2017; 16:2138-2152. [PMID: 28978618 PMCID: PMC5724177 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical signaling plays a critical role in the behavior and physiology of many animals. Female insects, as many other animals, release sex pheromones to attract males for mating. The evolutionary and ecological success of insects therefore hinges on their ability to precisely mediate (including initiation and termination) pheromone biosynthesis. Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) acts directly on pheromone glands to regulate sex pheromone production using Ca2+ and cyclic-AMP as secondary messengers in the majority of species. However, the molecular mechanism downstream of the secondary messengers has not yet been elucidated in heliothine species. The present study shows that calcineurin, protein kinase A (PKA) and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC) are key components involved in PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera using PBAN-dependent phosphoproteomics in combination with transcriptomics. RNAi-mediated knockdown and inhibitor assay demonstrated that calcineurin A is required for PBAN-induced ACC activation and sex pheromone production. Calcineurin-dependent phosphoproteomics and in vitro calcineurin phosphorylation assay further revealed that calcineurin regulated ACC activity by dephosphorylating ser84 and ser92. In addition, PKA-dependent phosphoproteomics and activity analysis revealed that PKA reduces the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a negative regulator of ACC by phosphorylating the conserved ser92. Taken together, our findings indicate that calcineurin acts as the downstream signal of PBAN/G-protein receptor/Ca2+ to activate ACC through dephosphorylation while inactivating AMPK via PKA to reduce ACC phosphorylation, thus facilitating calcineurin activation of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Nana Ma
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jizheng Wei
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Shutang Zhou
- §Institute of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, China
| | - Ada Rafaeli
- ¶Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel
| | - Qisheng Song
- ‖Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Shiheng An
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China;
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Du M, Zhao W, Jurenka R, Liu X, Yin X, Song Q, An S. Transcriptome analysis of Helicoverpa armigera male hairpencils: Alcohol biosynthesis and requirement for mating success. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 87:154-164. [PMID: 28705633 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Many female animals use different strategies to assess male quality to increase their own reproductive fitness. In moths, females usually use chemical signals (sex pheromones) to attract males from a distance. Once males approach a female, they release close range pheromones from hairpencils to facilitate female acceptance. However, detailed mechanisms involved in male sex pheromone biosynthesis and its action in promoting female acceptance have not yet been fully characterized. This study screened a series of candidate genes via a transcriptome analysis of the male hairpencil of Helicoverpa armigera. Using pharmacological inhibitor and RNAi-mediated knockdown assays, we demonstrated that Ca2+ and cyclic-AMP were involved in pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN)-induced male sex pheromone biosynthesis. The functional analysis of candidate enzymes involved in the male sex pheromone biosynthesis pathway demonstrated that a decreased mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, Δ11-desaturase, and fatty-acyl reductase 2 by RNAi-mediated knockdown led to a significant decrease in the production of fatty acyl alcohols and the efficacy of female acceptance. Our results demonstrated the important role of the fatty acyl alcohol biosynthetic pathway in a PBAN-induced male sex pheromone biosynthesis and the importance of hairpencil compounds in female mating acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Russell Jurenka
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shiheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
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Buček A, Brabcová J, Vogel H, Prchalová D, Kindl J, Valterová I, Pichová I. Exploring complex pheromone biosynthetic processes in the bumblebee male labial gland by RNA sequencing. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:295-314. [PMID: 26945888 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Male marking pheromones (MPs) are used by the majority of bumblebee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae), including a commercially important greenhouse pollinator, the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), to attract conspecific females. MP biosynthetic processes in the cephalic part of the bumblebee male labial gland (LG) are of extraordinary complexity, involving enzymes of fatty acid and isoprenoid biosynthesis, which jointly produce more than 50 compounds. We employed a differential transcriptomic approach to identify candidate genes involved in MP biosynthesis by sequencing Bombus terrestris LG and fat body (FB) transcriptomes. We identified 12 454 abundantly expressed gene products (reads per kilobase of exon model per million mapped reads value > 1) that had significant hits in the GenBank nonredundant database. Of these, 876 were upregulated in the LG (> 4-fold difference). We identified more than 140 candidate genes potentially involved in MP biosynthesis, including esterases, fatty acid reductases, lipases, enzymes involved in limited fatty acid chain shortening, neuropeptide receptors and enzymes involved in biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, isoprenoids and fatty acids. For selected candidates, we confirmed their abundant expression in LG using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Our study shows that the Bombus terrestris LG transcriptome reflects both fatty acid and isoprenoid MP biosynthetic processes and identifies rational gene targets for future studies to disentangle the molecular basis of MP biosynthesis. Additionally, LG and FB transcriptomes enrich the available transcriptomic resources for Bombus terrestris.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Buček
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Brabcová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - H Vogel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - D Prchalová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Kindl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Valterová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Pichová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
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15
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Abstract
Moth sexual pheromones are widely studied as a fine-tuned system of intraspecific sexual communication that reinforces interspecific reproductive isolation. However, their evolution poses a dilemma: How can the female pheromone and male preference simultaneously change to create a new pattern of species-specific attraction? Solving this puzzle requires us to identify the genes underlying intraspecific variation in signals and responses and to understand the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for their interspecific divergence. Candidate gene approaches and functional analyses have yielded insights into large families of biosynthetic enzymes and pheromone receptors, although the factors controlling their expression remain largely unexplored. Intra- and interspecific crosses have provided tantalizing evidence of regulatory genes, although, to date, mapping resolution has been insufficient to identify them. Recent advances in high-throughput genome and transcriptome sequencing, together with established techniques, have great potential to help scientists identify the specific genetic changes underlying divergence and resolve the mystery of how moth sexual communication systems evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid T Groot
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Teun Dekker
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;
| | - David G Heckel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany;
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16
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Lu Q, Huang LY, Chen P, Yu JF, Xu J, Deng JY, Ye H. Identification and RNA Interference of the Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN) in the Common Cutworm Moth Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 108:1344-1353. [PMID: 26470263 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tov108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Spodoptera litura F. is one of the most destructive insect pests of many agricultural crops and notorious for developing insecticide resistance. Developing environmental friendly control methods such as novel pheromone and RNAi-related control strategies is imperative to control this pest. In the present study, the full-length cDNA encoding the diapause hormone and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (DH-PBAN) was identified and characterized in S. litura. This 809-bp transcript contains a 573-nucleotide ORF encoding a 191-amino acid protein, from which five putative neuropeptides, including PBAN, DH, and α-, β-, and γ-subesophageal ganglion neuropeptides, were derived. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both the whole protein and each of the five neuropeptides have high similarities to those of DH-PBANs from other insect orders particularly Lepidoptera. Females treated with TKYFSPRLamide (the active core fragment of PBAN) produced significantly more four types of pheromone compounds (A; B; C; D) than controls. RNA interference by injection of PBAN dsRNA significantly reduced the relative expression levels of this gene in adult females (approximately reduced by 60%). As a consequence, females treated with PBAN dsRNA produced significantly less four types of pheromone compounds (A; B; C; D) than controls. These results suggest that PBAN function in activating sex pheromone biosynthesis and the RNAi of DH-PBAN gene can be induced by the injection of dsRNA into the body cavity in S. litura. This study suggests the possibility of novel pheromone-related pest control strategies based on RNAi techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Lu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P.R. China. Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ling-Yan Huang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P.R. China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Peng Chen
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650201, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Feng Yu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P.R. China
| | - Jin Xu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P.R. China.
| | - Jian-Yu Deng
- Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China
| | - Hui Ye
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P.R. China
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17
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Du M, Liu X, Liu X, Yin X, Han S, Song Q, An S. Glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase is required for PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis in Bombyx mori. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8110. [PMID: 25630665 PMCID: PMC5389035 DOI: 10.1038/srep08110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Female moths employ their own pheromone blends as a communicational medium in mating behavior. The biosynthesis and release of sex pheromone in female moths are regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and the corresponding action of PBAN has been well elucidated in Bombyx mori. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanism regarding the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor. In this study, quantitative proteomics was utilized to comprehensively elucidate the expression dynamics of pheromone glands (PGs) during development. Proteomic analysis revealed a serial of differentially expressed sex pheromone biosynthesis-associated proteins at the different time points of B. mori development. Most interestingly B. mori glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase (BmGPAT) was found to be expressed during the key periods of sex pheromone biosynthesis. RNAi knockdown of BmGPAT confirmed the important function of this protein in the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor, triacylglcerol (TAG), and subsequently PBAN-induced production of sex pheromone, bombykol. Behavioral analysis showed that RNAi knockdown of GPAT significantly impaired the ability of females to attract males. Our findings indicate that GPAT acts to regulate the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor, TAG, thus influencing PBAN-induced sex pheromone production and subsequent mating behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Shuangyin Han
- Translational Research Center, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003 P.R. China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shiheng An
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
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exo-Brevicomin biosynthesis in the fat body of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. J Chem Ecol 2014; 40:181-9. [PMID: 24532213 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-014-0381-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
exo-Brevicomin (exo-7-ethyl-5-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane) is an important semiochemical for a number of beetle species, including the highly destructive mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. It also has been found in other insects and even in the African elephant. Despite its significance, little is known about its biosynthesis. In order to fill this gap and to identify new molecular targets for potential pest management methods, we performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of cell cultures and in vitro assays of various D. ponderosae tissues with exo-brevicomin intermediates, analogs, and inhibitors. We confirmed that exo-brevicomin was synthesized by "unfed" males after emerging from the brood tree. Furthermore, in contrast to the paradigm established for biosynthesis of monoterpenoid pheromone components in bark beetles, exo-brevicomin was produced in the fat body, and not in the anterior midgut. The first committed step involves decarboxylation or decarbonylation of ω-3-decenoic acid, which is derived from a longer-chain precursor via β-oxidation, to (Z)-6-nonen-2-ol. This secondary alcohol is converted to the known precursor, (Z)-6-nonen-2-one, and further epoxidized by a cytochrome P450 to 6,7-epoxynonan-2-one. The keto-epoxide is stable at physiological pH, suggesting that its final cyclization to form exo-brevicomin is enzyme-catalyzed. exo-Brevicomin production is unusual in that tissue not derived from ectoderm apparently is involved.
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19
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Foster SP, Anderson KG. Synthetic rates of key stored fatty acids in the biosynthesis of sex pheromone in the moth Heliothis virescens. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 42:865-872. [PMID: 22982110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Using a tracer-tracee approach, we fed 1-d-old virgin Heliothis virescens U-(13)C-glucose and analyzed the key labeled fatty acids, (Z)-11-hexadecenoate, hexadecanoate and octadecanoate, known to be intermediates in pheromone biosynthesis, by mass isotopomer distribution analysis. This method allowed determination of enrichment, and fractional (FSR) and absolute (ASR) synthetic rates. As expected, FSRs and ASRs for all three moieties were greater in the scotophase than photophase. However, in whole gland extracts, FSRs and ASRs of (Z)-11-hexadecenoate and hexadecanoate were much lower than those of the major pheromone component, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, determined previously. Since pheromone is made via these acids, we postulated that pheromone was produced directly and very rapidly via a small pool of acyl CoA thioesters of these acids and that the pool of acids we analyzed in our whole gland extract was largely a 'dead end' pool of excess acids (i.e., not converted directly to pheromone) stored in glycerolipids. We tested this by fractionating the whole glandular extract and analyzing the glycerolipid fraction. FSRs and ASRs for the two acids in the glycerolipid fraction were similar to those for the whole gland extract, confirming our postulate. Thus, most acetate produced in the pheromone gland is converted rapidly and directly to pheromone, while excess fatty acids are stored in glycerolipids and remain relatively inaccessible for pheromone production, at least over the two periods studied. Precursor enrichment of octadecanoate was substantially lower than that determined for the two 16-carbon acids and pheromone component. This suggests that hexadecanoate is the principal product of the multi-enzyme complex fatty acid synthase in the gland, and that octadecanoate is formed by subsequent chain elongation of hexadecanoate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Foster
- Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA.
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20
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Du M, Zhang S, Zhu B, Yin X, An S. Identification of a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 gene involved in pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide stimulated pheromone production in Bombyx mori. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 58:699-703. [PMID: 22387497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Revised: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final step in triacylglycerol biosynthesis. In the present study, a DGAT2 gene from Bombyx mori was characterized. Temporal expression profiles indicated that BmDGAT2 steadily increased from 96 h before eclosion (-96 h) to an expression peak in the pheromone glands (PGs) of new-emerged female (0 h), a key stage for sex pheromone production. Spatial expression analysis revealed that the BmDGAT2 transcript was most richly expressed in PGs. Decapitation and subsequent methoprene, a juvenile hormone (JH) analog, treatment experiments revealed that JH had no influence on the expression of BmDGAT2 transcript before emergence, but inhibited the expression of BmDGAT2 transcript when administered to newly emerged adults. Further RNAi analysis confirmed that the decrease in BmDGAT2 mRNA level caused a significant reduction in sex pheromone production. Thus, DGAT2 is a key enzyme regulating B. mori sex pheromone synthesis and release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
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21
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Du M, Yin X, Zhang S, Zhu B, Song Q, An S. Identification of lipases involved in PBAN stimulated pheromone production in Bombyx mori using the DGE and RNAi approaches. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31045. [PMID: 22359564 PMCID: PMC3281041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/31/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) is a neurohormone that regulates sex pheromone synthesis in female moths. Bombyx mori is a model organism that has been used to explore the signal transduction pattern of PBAN, which is mediated by a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Although significant progress has been made in elucidating PBAN-regulated lipolysis that releases the precursor of the sex pheromone, little is known about the molecular components involved in this step. To better elucidate the molecular mechanisms of PBAN-stimulated lipolysis of cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs), the associated lipase genes involved in PBAN- regulated sex pheromone biosynthesis were identified using digital gene expression (DGE) and subsequent RNA interference (RNAi). Results Three DGE libraries were constructed from pheromone glands (PGs) at different developed stages, namely, 72 hours before eclosion (−72 h), new emergence (0 h) and 72 h after eclosion (72 h), to investigate the gene expression profiles during PG development. The DGE evaluated over 5.6 million clean tags in each PG sample and revealed numerous genes that were differentially expressed at these stages. Most importantly, seven lipases were found to be richly expressed during the key stage of sex pheromone synthesis and release (new emergence). RNAi-mediated knockdown confirmed for the first time that four of these seven lipases play important roles in sex pheromone synthesis. Conclusion This study has identified four lipases directly involved in PBAN-stimulated sex pheromone biosynthesis, which improve our understanding of the lipases involved in releasing bombykol precursors from triacylglycerols (TAGs) within the cytoplasmic LDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinming Yin
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Songdou Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhu
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shiheng An
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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22
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Foster SP, Anderson KG. The use of mass isotopomer distribution analysis to quantify synthetic rates of sex pheromone in the moth Heliothis virescens. J Chem Ecol 2011; 37:1208-10. [PMID: 22072185 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-011-0035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Although there has been much investigation of the steps involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths, little is known about the kinetics of biosynthesis in vivo, primarily because there are few techniques suitable for studying the small amounts of pheromone produced without perturbing a female moth's normal physiology. In this paper, female Heliothis virescens moths fed on U-(13)C-glucose were subjected to mass isotopomer distribution analysis, enabling calculation of fractional (FSR) and absolute (ASR) synthetic rates of the main pheromone component, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, at two different photoperiodic times: during the scotophase (when adults are sexually active) and during the photophase (when adults do not engage in mating behavior). FSRs differed substantially at the two times with, as expected, the greater rate occurring during the scotophase. After determining Z11-16:Ald pool sizes, ASR through the scotophase was calculated to be roughly 20 times greater than ASR in the photophase. These differences are consistent with the release/non-release of the pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide. This approach should facilitate determination of more quantitative measures of semiochemical production in moths and other sugar-feeding insects that synthesize semiochemicals from glycolytic metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Foster
- Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA.
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23
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Jurenka R, Rafaeli A. Regulatory Role of PBAN in Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis of Heliothine Moths. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2011; 2:46. [PMID: 22654810 PMCID: PMC3356091 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2011.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Both males and females of heliothine moths utilize sex-pheromones during the mating process. Females produce and release a sex pheromone for the long-range attraction of males for mating. Production of sex pheromone in females is controlled by the peptide hormone (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, PBAN). This review will highlight what is known about the role PBAN plays in controlling pheromone production in female moths. Male moths produce compounds associated with a hairpencil structure associated with the aedaegus that are used as short-range aphrodisiacs during the mating process. We will discuss the role that PBAN plays in regulating male production of hairpencil pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Jurenka
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA, USA
| | - Ada Rafaeli
- Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research OrganizationBet Dagan, Israel
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24
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Fónagy A, Moto K, Ohnishi A, Kurihara M, Kis J, Matsumoto S. Studies of sex pheromone production under neuroendocrine control by analytical and morphological means in the oriental armyworm, Pseudaletia separata, Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2011; 172:62-76. [PMID: 21354157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2010] [Revised: 02/04/2011] [Accepted: 02/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most female moths produce species-specific sex pheromone blends in the modified epidermal pheromone gland (PG) cells generally located between the 8 and 9th abdominal segments. The biosynthesis is often regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) either in or prior to de novo fatty acid synthesis or at the formation of oxygenated functional group. In Pseudaletia separata, information about life span, calling, PG morphology, daily fluctuation of pheromone production and its hormonal regulation is limited. We measured pheromone titer daily (16:8; L:D) at 2h intervals in scotophase. Blend ratio stabilized during the 2nd day (till 4-5th) at 6th hour of scotophase, with the ratio of 27.5:12.8:44.4:15.3 for Z-11-16OH:16OH:Z-11-16Ac:16Ac, respectively. Females showed calling behavior from this time. We found with light and fluorescence microscopy that PG consisted of intersegmental membrane (A part), and dorso-lateral region of 9th abdominal segment (B part), encountering for ∼ 35% of total production revealed by gas chromatography. Ratios did not reveal difference. We did not find precursor (triacylglycerols) accumulation in form of lipid droplets, implying that PBAN stimulates de novo biosynthesis of 16:acyl precursors. In vivoHez-PBAN injections (1-3 × 5 pmol, 2h intervals) into 3 days old 16-18 h decapitated females stimulated pheromone production, both in A and B parts. Blend analyses including ratios suggest stimulation of the initial phase of synthesis, but desaturation of fatty acyl intermediates do not follow proportionally. More saturated fatty acid is converted from the available pool to the final OH and Ac, compared to females kept intact in scotophase. In vitro studies (PGs incubated 4-6h in the presence of 0.25 or 0.5 μM Hez-PBAN, especially with surplus 2mM malonyl-CoA) revealed higher saturated component ratio than the unsaturated, compared to natural blend or in vivo injections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Fónagy
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Analysis Department, Plant Protection Institute of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Herman Ottó u. 15, H-1022, Hungary.
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Fujii T, Nakano R, Takubo Y, Qian S, Yamakawa R, Ando T, Ishikawa Y. Female sex pheromone of a lichen moth Eilema japonica (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae): components and control of production. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 56:1986-1991. [PMID: 20826159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2010] [Revised: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Seven candidates for components of the female sex pheromone of Eilema japonica (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae) were detected in an extract of pheromone glands with a gas chromatograph-electroantennographic detector. The compounds were identified as (Z,Z)-6,9-icosadiene (D20), (Z,Z)-6,9-henicosadiene (D21), (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-henicosatriene (T21), (Z,Z)-6,9-docosadiene (D22), (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-docosatriene (T22), (Z,Z)-6,9-tricosadiene (D23), and (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-tricosatriene (T23). Assays using synthetic lures in a wind tunnel showed that D21 (proportion, 0.39), T21 (0.08), D22 (0.27), and T22 (0.26) are important for evoking full behavioral responses from the males. Titers of the pheromone components did not show clear temporal fluctuations. Moreover, decapitation of the female moth had no effect on the titers of pheromone components in the pheromone gland, suggesting that cephalic endocrine factors such as pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) are not involved in the control of pheromone biosynthesis in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Fujii
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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Rioux V, Pédrono F, Legrand P. Regulation of mammalian desaturases by myristic acid: N-terminal myristoylation and other modulations. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2010; 1811:1-8. [PMID: 20920594 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2010.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2010] [Revised: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Myristic acid, the 14-carbon saturated fatty acid (C14:0), usually accounts for small amounts (0.5%-1% weight of total fatty acids) in animal tissues. Since it is a relatively rare molecule in the cells, the specific properties and functional roles of myristic acid have not been fully studied and described. Like other dietary saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, lauric acid), this fatty acid is usually associated with negative consequences for human health. Indeed, in industrialized countries, its excessive consumption correlates with an increase in plasma cholesterol and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, one feature of myristoyl-CoA is its ability to be covalently linked to the N-terminal glycine residue of eukaryotic and viral proteins. This reaction is called N-terminal myristoylation. Through the myristoylation of hundreds of substrate proteins, myristic acid can activate many physiological pathways. This review deals with these potentially activated pathways. It focuses on the following emerging findings on the biological ability of myristic acid to regulate the activity of mammalian desaturases: (i) recent findings have described it as a regulator of the Δ4-desaturation of dihydroceramide to ceramide; (ii) studies have demonstrated that it is an activator of the Δ6-desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids; and (iii) myristic acid itself is a substrate of some fatty acid desaturases. This article discusses several topics, such as the myristoylation of the dihydroceramide Δ4-desaturase, the myristoylation of the NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase which is part of the whole desaturase complex, and other putative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Rioux
- Laboratoire de Biochimie-Nutrition Humaine, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA USC 2012, Rennes, France.
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Gene-silencing reveals the functional significance of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBAN-R) in a male moth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:16858-62. [PMID: 20837549 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1008812107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) in the regulation of pheromone biosynthesis of several female moth species is well elucidated, but its role in the males has been a mystery for over two decades since its discovery from both male and female central nervous systems. In previous studies we have identified the presence of the gene transcript for the PBAN-G-protein coupled receptor (PBAN-R) in Helicoverpa armigera male hair-pencil-aedaegus complexes (male complexes), a tissue structurally homologous to the female pheromone gland. Moreover, we showed that this transcript is up-regulated during pupal-adult development, analogous to its regulation in the female pheromone-glands, thereby indicating a likely functional gene. Here we argue in favor of PBAN's role in regulating the free fatty-acid components (myristic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids) and alcohol components (hexadecanol, cis-11 hexadecanol, and octadecanol) in male complexes. We demonstrate the diel periodicity in levels of male components, with peak titers occurring during the 7th-9th h in the scotophase, coincident with female pheromone production. In addition, we show significant stimulation of component levels by synthetic HezPBAN. Furthermore, we confirm PBAN's function in this tissue through knockdown of the PBAN-R gene using RNAi-mediated gene-silencing. Injections of PBAN-R dsRNA into the male hemocoel significantly inhibited levels of the various male components by 58%-74%. In conclusion, through gain and loss of function we revealed the functionality of the PBAN-R and the key components that are up-regulated by PBAN.
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Hull JJ, Lee JM, Matsumoto S. Gqalpha-linked phospholipase Cbeta1 and phospholipase Cgamma are essential components of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) signal transduction cascade. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2010; 19:553-566. [PMID: 20546038 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2010.01013.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Sex pheromone production for most moths is regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). In Bombyx mori, PBAN binding triggers the opening of store-operated Ca(2+) channels, suggesting the involvement of a receptor-activated phospholipase C (PLC). In this study, we found that PLC inhibitors U73122 and compound 48/80 reduced sex pheromone production and that intracellular levels of (3)H-inositol phosphate species increased following PBAN stimulation. In addition, we amplified cDNAs from pheromone glands corresponding to PLCbeta1, PLCbeta4, PLCgamma and two G protein alpha subunits, Go and Gq. In vivo RNA interference-mediated knockdown analyses revealed that BmPLCbeta1, BmGq1, and unexpectedly, BmPLCgamma, are part of the PBAN signal transduction cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Hull
- Molecular Entomology Laboratory, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
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29
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Shi ZH, Sun JH. Quantitative variation and biosynthesis of hindgut volatiles associated with the red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens LeConte, at different attack phases. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2010; 100:273-277. [PMID: 19671207 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485309990228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The red turpentine beetle (RTB), Dendroctonus valens LeConte, is a destructive invasive forest pest in China. For such tree-killing species, how to initiate a volatile-mediated mass attack is of great importance during the course of establishment. To understand the hindgut volatile production mechanism underlying mass attack initiated by RTB, coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 13C-labelled precursors were applied to explore the quantitative variation and biosynthesis of volatiles associated with RTB at different attack phases. Five previously described volatiles, trans-verbenol, myrtenol, cis-verbenol, myrtenal and verbenone, were identified and quantified from extracts of female and male hindguts, with the first two compounds as the major components and the latter three as minor constituents. In newly emerged females and males, only minute amounts of these compounds were detected. The quantity of volatiles from female adults significantly increased after they fed on bolts. Male adults also yielded larger quantities of volatiles after they joined females in galleries, which suggested that RTB males could accelerate the mass colonization on host trees. We also confirmed that RTB produced the five volatiles through oxidizing the major host monoterpene, alpha-pinene, but not synthesized de novo since products were labeled without 13C. The implication of this study in understanding the successful invasion of RTB is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-H Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Hull JJ, Lee JM, Matsumoto S. Functional role of STIM1 and Orai1 in silkmoth ( Bombyx mori) sex pheromone production. Commun Integr Biol 2010; 3:240-2. [DOI: 10.4161/cib.3.3.11394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 01/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Unraveling the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) signal transduction cascade that regulates sex pheromone production in moths. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2010; 83:425-45. [PMID: 20831957 DOI: 10.1016/s0083-6729(10)83018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Studies over the past three decades have demonstrated that female moths usually produce sex pheromones as multicomponent blends in which the ratios of the individual components are precisely controlled, making it possible to generate species-specific pheromone blends. Most moth pheromone components are de novo synthesized from acetyl-CoA in the pheromone gland (PG) through modifications of fatty acid biosynthetic pathways. Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), a neurohormone produced by a cephalic organ (subesophageal ganglion) stimulates sex pheromone biosynthesis in the PG via an influx of extracellular Ca(2+). In recent years, we have expanded our knowledge of the precise mechanisms underlying silkmoth (Bombyx mori) sex pheromone production by characterizing a number of key molecules. In this review, we want to highlight our efforts in elucidating these mechanisms in B. mori and to understand how they relate more broadly to lepidopteran sex pheromone production in general.
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Rafaeli A. Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN): regulatory role and mode of action. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2009; 162:69-78. [PMID: 18495120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2008.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2008] [Revised: 04/02/2008] [Accepted: 04/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This review focuses on the endocrine regulation of reproductive behavior in moth species with particular emphasis on Helicoverpa spp. Reproductive behavior in most adult moths is dependent on the release of a unique blend of sex pheromones by the females to attract conspecific males. Mating, on the other hand, results in a loss of sexual receptivity due to the transfer of secretions from the male accessory glands, which renders females unattractive to ensuing mates. Synchronization of sexual behavior is attained by the timely release of Pheromone-Biosynthesis-Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN), a member of the PBAN/Pyrokinin neuropeptide family, characterized by a common amino acid sequence FXPRLamide motif in the C-terminus. PBAN is released into the hemolymph of females during the scotophase and is drastically reduced after mating, contributing to the loss in female receptivity. Pheromone production is age-dependent and Juvenile Hormone is involved in its regulation. PBAN activates pheromone production through its binding to a PBAN-Receptor (PBAN-R) and subsequent up-regulation of key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. The PBAN-R gene was identified as a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family (GPCRs), classified with the vertebrate subfamily of neuromedin U receptors. Using both biochemical and in silico mutagenesis studies, putative binding sites are predicted. Differential expression studies reveal its localization in pheromone glands, neural tissues and the male aedeagus. In the latter tissue, no activity and/or receptor-binding can be detected in response to PBAN. These results raise many questions concerning the evolutionary role of the PBAN/Pyrokinin receptors belonging to the GPCR family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Rafaeli
- Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
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Groot AT, Marr M, Schöfl G, Lorenz S, Svatos A, Heckel DG. Host strain specific sex pheromone variation in Spodoptera frugiperda. Front Zool 2008; 5:20. [PMID: 19109878 PMCID: PMC2628650 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-5-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2008] [Accepted: 12/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) consists of two distinct strains with different host plant preferences for corn and rice. To assess whether pheromonal-mediated behavioral isolation accompanies the habitat isolation on different host plants, we compared the sex pheromone composition among females of the two strains. Pheromone glands were extracted with or without injection of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). To assess the mode of inheritance of this variation, we also analyzed the pheromone composition of F1 hybrid females. RESULTS Relative to intra-strain variation, the pheromone composition of the two strains differed significantly. Corn strain females contained significantly more of the second most abundant pheromone compound Z11-16:Ac (m), and significantly less of most other compounds, than rice strain females. When females were injected with PBAN before their glands were extracted, the differences between the strains were less pronounced but still statistically significant. The pheromone composition of hybrid females showed a maternal inheritance of the major component Z9-14:Ac (M) as well as of Z11-16:Ac (m). Most other compounds showed an inheritance indicating genetic dominance of the corn strain. The within-strain phenotypic correlations among the various components were consistent with their hypothesized biosynthetic pathway, and between-strain differences in the correlation structure suggested candidate genes that may explain the pheromone differences between the two strains. These include Delta9- and Delta11 desaturases, and possibly also a Delta7-desaturase, although the latter has not been identified in insects so far. CONCLUSION The two host strains of S. frugiperda produce systematically differing female sex pheromone blends. Previously-documented geographic variation in the sexual communication of this species did not take strain identity into account, and thus may be partly explained by different strain occurrence in different regions. The finding of pheromone differences reinforces the possibility of incipient reproductive isolation among these strains, previously shown to differ in the timing of nocturnal mating activity and host plant use. Finding the genetic basis of the pheromone differences, as well as these other biological traits, will help to elucidate the role of premating isolation in the continuing differentiation of these two strains that may eventually lead to speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid T Groot
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Dept. Entomology, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Melanie Marr
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Dept. Entomology, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schöfl
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Dept. Entomology, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sybille Lorenz
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Research group Mass spectrometry, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ales Svatos
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Research group Mass spectrometry, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - David G Heckel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Dept. Entomology, Hans-Knöll Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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