Gas chromatography?mass spectrometry analysis of termite defence secretions in the subfamilyNasutitermitinae

Identification of soldier caste-specific protein in the frontal gland of nasute termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Isoptera: Termitidae)

“…5). Previous studies showed the presence of large amounts of terpenoids that have a basic carbon skeleton, which structurally resemble juvenile hormone, in the frontalgland secretion of Nasutitermes (Prestwich, 1979c;Goh et al, 1982;Everaerts et al, 1993). These results suggest that Ntsp1 protein binds terpenoid synthesized in the secretory cells.…”

“…4), suggesting that Ntsp1 protein is constantly synthesized after differentiation to soldier, and secreted and stored in the reservoir. Although terpenoids isolated from frontal gland secretions of Nasutitermes have been analyzed chemically (Prestwich, 1979c;Goh et al, 1982;Gush et al, 1985;Everaerts et al, 1988Everaerts et al, , 1993Chuah et al, 1989), no protein has been so far identified in the secretion.…”

“…A large part of the soldier's head is occupied by the frontal gland reservoir, in which large amount of secretions are stored (Costa-Leonardo and De Salvo, 1987). The components of the frontal gland secretions of Nasutitermes include various types of terpenoids (Prestwich, 1979c;Goh et al, 1982;Gush et al, 1985;Everaerts et al, 1988Everaerts et al, , 1993Chuah et al, 1989). Although detailed biosynthetic pathways of the secretions have not been investigated in any termite species, it was suggested that the soldiers synthesize these secretions by themselves in Nasutitermes (Prestwich et al, 1981).…”

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of the Diterpenes Kempene‐2, Kempene‐1, and 3‐epi‐Kempene‐1 from the Defense Secretion of Higher Termites

“…[1] Kempene-2 (1), kempene-1 (2), and 3-epi-kempene-1 (3) are diterpenes with a kempane skeleton isolated first from the defense secretion of termite soldiers of the species Nasutitermes kempae [2] and Bulbitermes singaporensis [3] (Scheme 1). [4,5] The synthesis of these exceptional natural products has proven to be problematic. So far, only the total synthesis of racemic kempene-2 (rac-1) has been reported, [6] whereas a number of other synthetic studies [7] have not yet led to the desired kempanes.…”

Enantioselektive Totalsynthese der Diterpene Kempen‐2, Kempen‐1 und 3‐epi‐Kempen‐1 aus dem Abwehrsekret höherer Termiten

“…[1] Kempen-2 (1), Kempen-1 (2) und 3-epi-Kempen-1 (3) sind Diterpene mit einem Kempan-Gerüst, die zuerst aus dem Abwehrsekret der Termitensoldaten von Nasutitermes kempae [2] und Bulbitermes singaporensis [3] isoliert wurden (Schema 1). [4,5] Die Synthese dieser ungewöhnlichen Naturstoffe erwies sich als problematisch. So gelang bisher allein die Totalsynthese von racemischem Kempen-2 (rac-1), [6] wogegen viele weitere Synthesestudien [7] noch nicht zu den angestrebten Kempanen geführt haben.…”