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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Identification of a pheromone regulating caste differentiation in termites
Author(s):		Matsuura K; Himuro C; Yokoi T; Yamamoto Y; Vargo EL; Keller L;
Address:		"Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan. kenjijpn@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100706
Issue:		29
Page Number:		12963 - 12968
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.1004675107
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The hallmark of social insects is their caste system: reproduction is primarily monopolized by queens, whereas workers specialize in the other tasks required for colony growth and survival. Pheromones produced by reigning queens have long been believed to be the prime factor inhibiting the differentiation of new reproductive individuals. However, there has been very little progress in the chemical identification of such inhibitory pheromones. Here we report the identification of a volatile inhibitory pheromone produced by female neotenics (secondary queens) that acts directly on target individuals to suppress the differentiation of new female neotenics and identify n-butyl-n-butyrate and 2-methyl-1-butanol as the active components of the inhibitory pheromone. An artificial pheromone blend consisting of these two compounds had a strong inhibitory effect similar to live neotenics. Surprisingly, the same two volatiles are also emitted by eggs, playing a role both as an attractant to workers and an inhibitor of reproductive differentiation. This dual production of an inhibitory pheromone by female reproductives and eggs probably reflects the recruitment of an attractant pheromone as an inhibitory pheromone and may provide a mechanism ensuring honest signaling of reproductive status with a tight coupling between fertility and inhibitory power. Identification of a volatile pheromone regulating caste differentiation in a termite provides insights into the functioning of social insect colonies and opens important avenues for elucidating the developmental pathways leading to reproductive and nonreproductive castes"
Keywords:		"Animals Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry *Hierarchy, Social Isoptera/*metabolism/physiology Male Pheromones/*analysis/chemistry Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Volatilization;"
Notes:		"MedlineMatsuura, Kenji Himuro, Chihiro Yokoi, Tomoyuki Yamamoto, Yuuka Vargo, Edward L Keller, Laurent eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/07/10 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jul 20; 107(29):12963-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1004675107. Epub 2010 Jul 6"