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Chembiochem

Title:		De novo biosynthesis of sexual pheromone in the labial gland of bumblebee males
Author(s):		Zacek P; Prchalova-Hornakova D; Tykva R; Kindl J; Vogel H; Svatos A; Pichova I; Valterova I;
Address:		"Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic"
Journal Title:		Chembiochem
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130116
Issue:		3
Page Number:		361 - 371
DOI:		10.1002/cbic.201200684
ISSN/ISBN:		1439-7633 (Electronic) 1439-4227 (Linking)
Abstract:		"De novo biosynthesis of male sex pheromone from two bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum) was studied by using in vitro incubations of labial glands (LGs) with radioactive [1,2-(14)C]acetate and deuterated [D(3)]acetate. The labeled substrate was incorporated into several types of compounds, such as terpenic alcohols, fatty acids, esters, and hydrocarbons. A similar incubation of [1,2-(14)C]acetate with fat bodies (FB) led to the formation of fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), and hydrocarbons. To support the results from in vitro incubations, PCR analysis of fatty acid synthase (FAS) transcripts in LG and FB was performed. Relative quantification of FAS transcription levels revealed that the abundance of mRNA from the FAS gene is a function of the age of B. terrestris males. A comparison of the relative FAS mRNA gene transcription level in FB and LGs of B. terrestris and B. lucorum males proved that high biosynthetic activity takes place in the LGs of both species. Together, these results indicate that pheromone components are synthesized de novo in the LG"
Keywords:		"Acetic Acid/chemistry/metabolism Animals Bees/*metabolism Carbon Radioisotopes/chemistry Chromatography, Thin Layer Deuterium/chemistry Fat Body/enzymology/metabolism Fatty Acid Synthases/genetics/metabolism Fatty Acids/biosynthesis/chemistry Male Mass Sp;"
Notes:		"MedlineZacek, Petr Prchalova-Hornakova, Darina Tykva, Richard Kindl, Jiri Vogel, Heiko Svatos, Ales Pichova, Iva Valterova, Irena eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2013/01/18 Chembiochem. 2013 Feb 11; 14(3):361-71. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201200684. Epub 2013 Jan 16"