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Title: SEX PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS IN THE PINE CATERPILLAR MOTH, DENDROLIMUS PUNCTATUS (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE)

Author
item ZHAO, CHENGHUA - CHINESE ACDMY. OF SCIENCE
item Adlof, Richard
item LOFSTEDT, CHRISTER - LUND UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2003
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Zhao, C., Adlof, R.O., Lofstedt, C. 2004. Sex pheromone biosynthesis in the pine caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus punctatus (lepidoptera: lasiocampidae). Journal of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 34:261-271.

Interpretive Summary: The pine moth or caterpillar pine moth (genus Dendrolimus spp.) is a pest widely distributed in Asia and Europe, with Asia containing 28 of the 30 total species of this genus. Larvae of the species feed on the needles of pine trees and are significant forest pests in China and Southeast Asia. Many of the sex pheromones in these species are formed from saturated fatty acid precursors by the combined action of several specific enzymes. As part of an on-going study to develop better pheromone traps to control this pest, fatty acids tagged with deuterium atoms (non-radioactive atoms readily identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) were used to trace the pathways of pheromone formation in the pheromone glad of D. punctatus. A better understanding of the starting materials and intermediates required for pheromone production will provide insight into the evolution of D. punctatus and can also be used to formulate better traps for control of these destructive pests.

Technical Abstract: Biosynthesis of the sex pheromone components (Z)-5-dodecenol and (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol in Dendrolimus punctatus was studied by topical application of deuterium-labeled fatty acids to pheromone glands and subsequent analysis of fatty acyl groups and pheromone components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our studies suggest that both (Z)-5-dodecenol and (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol can be biosynthetically derived from chain elongation of palmitate to form stearoyl in the gland, and its subsequent delta-11 desaturation to produce (Z)-5-dodecenol by reduction. Chain shortening of (Z)-11-octadecenoate to (Z)-9-hexadecenoate, is followed by a second delta-11 desaturation to form (Z,E)-9,11-hexadecadienoate, which is then chain shortened in two cycles of beta-oxidation to produce (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienoate, which is finally converted to (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol by reduction.