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Abstract
The Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata L., Lepidoptera: Geometridae) utilizes a single hydrocarbon, 1,Z3,Z6,Z9-nonadecatetraene, as its sex pheromone. We tested the hypothesis that a fatty acid precursor, Z11,Z14,Z17,19-nonadecanoic acid, is biosynthesized from α-linolenic acid, through chain elongation by one 2-carbon unit, and subsequent methyl-terminus desaturation. Our results show that labeled α-linolenic acid is indeed incorporated into the pheromone component in vivo. A fatty-acyl-CoA desaturase gene that we found to be expressed in the abdominal epidermal tissue, the presumed site of biosynthesis for type II pheromones, was characterized and expressed heterologously in a yeast system. The transgenic yeast expressing this insect derived gene could convert Z11,Z14,Z17-eicosatrienoic acid into Z11,Z14,Z17,19-eicosatetraenoic acid. These results provide evidence that a terminal desaturation step is involved in the winter moth pheromone biosynthesis, prior to the decarboxylation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 715-722 |
Journal | Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
Volume | 41 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Biological Sciences
- Zoology
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Dive into the research topics of 'Terminal fatty-acyl-CoA desaturase involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis in the Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
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Evolutionary mechanisms of pheromone divergence in Lepidoptera
Löfstedt, C., Wang, H., Ding, B., Zhang, D., Svensson, G., Andersson, M. N., Jirle, E., Xia, Y., Hou, X., Yuvaraj, J. K. & Tóth, E.
1995/01/01 → 2019/12/31
Project: Research