| Title: | Functional characterisation of two Delta12-desaturases demonstrates targeted production of linoleic acid as pheromone precursor in Nasonia |
| Author(s): | Semmelmann F; Kabeya N; Malcicka M; Bruckmann A; Broschwitz B; Straub K; Merkl R; Monroig O; Sterner R; Ruther J; Ellers J; |
| Address: | "Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Department of Aquatic Bioscience, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657 Tokyo, Japan. Department of Ecological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IATS-CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes 12595, Spain. Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany joachim.ruther@ur.de" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1477-9145 (Electronic) 0022-0949 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Insect pheromones are often derived from fatty acid metabolism. Fatty acid desaturases, enzymes introducing double bonds into fatty acids, are crucial for the biosynthesis of these chemical signals. Delta12-desaturases catalyse the biosynthesis of linoleic acid by introducing a second double bond into oleic acid, but have been identified in only a few animal species. Here, we report the functional characterisation of two Delta12-desaturases, Nvit_D12a and Nvit_D12b, from the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis. We demonstrate that Nvit_D12a is expressed in the rectal vesicle of males where they produce a linoleic acid-derived sex pheromone to attract virgin females. (13)C-labelling experiments with Urolepis rufipes, a closely related species belonging to the 'Nasonia group', revealed that females, but not males, are able to synthesise linoleic acid. U. rufipes males produce an isoprenoid sex pheromone in the same gland and do not depend on linoleic acid for pheromone production. This suggests that Delta12-desaturases are common in the 'Nasonia group', but acquired a specialised function in chemical communication of those species that use linoleic acid as a pheromone precursor. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that insect Delta12-desaturases have evolved repeatedly from Delta9-desaturases in different insect taxa. Hence, insects have developed a way to produce linoleic acid independent of the omega desaturase subfamily which harbours all of the eukaryotic Delta12-desaturases known so far" |
| Keywords: | Animals Fatty Acid Desaturases/*genetics/metabolism Female Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism Linoleic Acid/*metabolism Male Sex Attractants/*biosynthesis Wasps/*metabolism Biosynthesis Nasonia vitripennis Parasitic wasp Sex pheromone Urolepis rufipes D; |
| Notes: | "MedlineSemmelmann, Florian Kabeya, Naoki Malcicka, Miriama Bruckmann, Astrid Broschwitz, Bastian Straub, Kristina Merkl, Rainer Monroig, Oscar Sterner, Reinhard Ruther, Joachim Ellers, Jacintha eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2019/04/26 J Exp Biol. 2019 May 16; 222(Pt 10):jeb201038. doi: 10.1242/jeb.201038" |
