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J Chem Ecol

Title:		The Scent of the Fly
Author(s):		Becher PG; Lebreton S; Wallin EA; Hedenstrom E; Borrero F; Bengtsson M; Joerger V; Witzgall P;
Address:		"Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden. Department of Chemical Engineering, Mid Sweden University, Holmgatan 10, 85170, Sundsvall, Sweden. Biological Control Laboratory, Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research, AA 240142 Las Palmas, Bogota, Colombia. Staatliches Weinbauinstitut, Merzhauserstr. 119, 79100, Freiburg, Germany. Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 102, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden. peter.witzgall@slu.se. SLU, Box 102, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden. peter.witzgall@slu.se"
Journal Title:		J Chem Ecol
Year:		2018
Volume:		20180403
Issue:		5
Page Number:		431 - 435
DOI:		10.1007/s10886-018-0950-4
ISSN/ISBN:		1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking)
Abstract:		"(Z)-4-undecenal (Z4-11Al) is the volatile pheromone produced by females of the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster. Female flies emit Z4-11Al for species-specific communication and mate-finding. A sensory panel finds that synthetic Z4-11Al has a characteristic flavour, which can be perceived even at the small amounts produced by a single female fly. Since only females produce Z4-11Al, and not males, we can reliably distinguish between single D. melanogaster males and females, according to their scent. Females release Z4-11Al at 2.4 ng/h and we readily sense 1 ng synthetic Z4-11Al in a glass of wine (0.03 nmol/L), while a tenfold concentration is perceived as a loud off-flavour. This corroborates the observation that a glass of wine is spoilt by a single D. melanogaster fly falling into it, which we here show is caused by Z4-11Al. The biological role of Z4-11Al or structurally related aldehydes in humans and the basis for this semiochemical convergence remains yet unclear"
Keywords:		"Aldehydes/analysis/*metabolism Alkenes/analysis/*metabolism Animals Drosophila melanogaster/chemistry/*physiology Female Male Mating Preference, Animal Odorants/analysis Pheromones/analysis/*metabolism Smell Species Specificity Wine/analysis Drosophila me;"
Notes:		"MedlineBecher, Paul G Lebreton, Sebastien Wallin, Erika A Hedenstrom, Erik Borrero, Felipe Bengtsson, Marie Joerger, Volker Witzgall, Peter eng -/Svenska Forskningsradet Formas/ -/Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet/ 2018/04/04 J Chem Ecol. 2018 May; 44(5):431-435. doi: 10.1007/s10886-018-0950-4. Epub 2018 Apr 3"