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Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

Title:		Pheromone biosynthetic pathways in the moths Heliothis subflexa and Heliothis virescens
Author(s):		Choi MY; Groot A; Jurenka RA;
Address:		"Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3222, USA"
Journal Title:		Arch Insect Biochem Physiol
Year:		2005
Volume:		59
Issue:		2
Page Number:		53 - 58
DOI:		10.1002/arch.20051
ISSN/ISBN:		0739-4462 (Print) 0739-4462 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Sex pheromones of many moth species have relatively simple structures consisting of a hydrocarbon chain with a functional group and one to several double bonds. These sex pheromones are derived from fatty acids through specific biosynthetic pathways. We investigated the incorporation of deuterium-labeled tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, and octadecanoic acid precursors into pheromone components of Heliothis subflexa and Heliothis virescens. The two species utilize (Z)11-hexadecenal as the major pheromone component, which is produced by Delta11 desaturation of hexadecanoic acid. H. subflexa also produced (Z)11-hexadecanol and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate via Delta11 desaturation. In H. subflexa, octadecanoic acid was used to biosynthesize the minor pheromone components (Z)9-hexadecenal, (Z)9-hexadecenol, and (Z)9-hexadecenyl acetate. These minor components are produced by Delta11 desaturation of octadecanoic acid followed by one round of chain-shortening. In contrast, H. virescens used hexadecanoic acid as a substrate to form (Z)11-hexadecenal and (Z)11-hexadecenol and hexadecenal. H. virescens also produced (Z)9-tetradecenal by Delta11 desaturation of the hexadecanoic acid followed by one round of chain-shortening and reduction. Tetradecanoic acid was not utilized as a precursor to form Z9-14:Ald in H. virescens. This labeling pattern indicates that the Delta11 desaturase is the only active desaturase present in the pheromone gland cells of both species"
Keywords:		"Animals Deuterium Fatty Acid Desaturases/metabolism Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry *Models, Biological Moths/*metabolism Palmitic Acids/metabolism Quinazolines/metabolism Sex Attractants/*biosynthesis;"
Notes:		"MedlineChoi, Man-Yeon Groot, Astrid Jurenka, Russell A eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2005/05/18 Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2005 Jun; 59(2):53-8. doi: 10.1002/arch.20051"