Insect pheromones—an overview of biosynthesis and endocrine regulation

Tillman, Julie A.; Seybold, Steven J.; Jurenka, Russell A.; Blomquist, Gary J.

doi:10.1016/s0965-1748(99)00016-8

Cited by 508 publications

(397 citation statements)

References 300 publications

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“…A shift toward heavier hydrocarbons in ants with well-developed ovaries has also been found in other ponerine species, e.g., P. inversa (Heinze et al, 2002) and H. saltator (Liebig et al, 2000). The elongation reactions, following a switch to reproductive maturation, have been well studied in other insect taxa (Tillman-Wall et al, 1992;Blomquist et al, 1995Blomquist et al, , 1998Tillman et al, 1999), and it is likely that a similar mechanism is acting in the species studied here, G. striatula. In two species, the dolichoderine ant Linepithema humile and the myrmeciine ant M. gulosa, the shift has been shown to proceed in the opposite direction (de Biseau et al, 2004;Dietemann et al, 2003), with queens being characterized by shorterchain hydrocarbons than workers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Cuticular Hydrocarbons Provide Reliable Cues of Fertility in the Ant Gnamptogenys striatula

et al. 2006

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In ca. 150 species of queenless ants, a specialized queen caste is rare or absent, and mated workers take over the role of the queen in some or all of the colonies. Previously, it has been shown that reproduction in queenless ants is regulated by a combination of dominance behavior and chemical fertility signaling. It is unknown, however, whether chemical signals alone can sufficiently regulate reproduction. To investigate this possibility, we studied reproductive regulation in the facultatively queenless ant Gnamptogenys striatula, a species where dominance behavior is rare or absent. Active egg layers and infertile workers showed qualitative and quantitative differences in their cuticular hydrocarbon profile. Five long-chain methyl alkanes, 3,13-and 3,15-dimethyl pentriacontane, 3,13-and 3,15-dimethyl heptentriacontane, and 3,11,15-trimethyl heptentriacontane occurred only on the cuticles of virgin and mated egg layers. Pronounced quantitative differences were found in a further 27 alkenes; alkanes; and mono-, di-, and trimethyl alkanes. Workers that had recently stopped laying eggs had profiles similar to infertile workers, and mating status did not affect this chemical pattern. We conclude that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of G. striatula workers provide reliable information about their current fertility. In the interest of colony productivity, this allows reproduction to be regulated without the use of aggression.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Cuticular Hydrocarbons Provide Reliable Cues of Fertility in the Ant Gnamptogenys striatula

et al. 2006

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“…Free fatty acids in the lipid layer of the insect's cuticle play an important role in preventing water loss but are also mostly regarded as precursors to pheromone components (39). However, growing evidence has accumulated indicating that some free fatty acids can act as major players in chemical communication systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene-silencing reveals the functional significance of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBAN-R) in a male moth

Bober

Rafaeli

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The role of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) in the regulation of pheromone biosynthesis of several female moth species is well elucidated, but its role in the males has been a mystery for over two decades since its discovery from both male and female central nervous systems. In previous studies we have identified the presence of the gene transcript for the PBAN-G-protein coupled receptor (PBAN-R) in Helicoverpa armigera male hair-pencil-aedaegus complexes (male complexes), a tissue structurally homologous to the female pheromone gland. Moreover, we showed that this transcript is up-regulated during pupal-adult development, analogous to its regulation in the female pheromone-glands, thereby indicating a likely functional gene. Here we argue in favor of PBAN's role in regulating the free fatty-acid components (myristic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids) and alcohol components (hexadecanol, cis-11 hexadecanol, and octadecanol) in male complexes. We demonstrate the diel periodicity in levels of male components, with peak titers occurring during the 7th-9th h in the scotophase, coincident with female pheromone production. In addition, we show significant stimulation of component levels by synthetic HezPBAN. Furthermore, we confirm PBAN's function in this tissue through knockdown of the PBAN-R gene using RNAi-mediated gene-silencing. Injections of PBAN-R dsRNA into the male hemocoel significantly inhibited levels of the various male components by 58%-74%. In conclusion, through gain and loss of function we revealed the functionality of the PBAN-R and the key components that are up-regulated by PBAN.aedaegus | hair-pencils | Helicoverpa armigera | male-produced components R eproductive behavior involves the integration of physiological and behavioral events that synchronize male and female encounters. Receptivity in female moths is broadcasted by the release of a blend of volatile sex-pheromones during specific times of the photoperiod when they assume typical calling behaviors.

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“…It is unclear why the gregarious hopper down-regulates so many metabolism-related genes as opposed to the solitary ones, other than to balance energy consumption for the transition between phenotypic types. Previous studies showed that genes associated with hydrocarbon metabolism are involved in pheromone metabolisms (35,36). One annotated gene (5 ESTs in the gregarious head but absent in other organs) function is phenylalanine catabolism, which may be involved in JHPH protein synthesis because these proteins are phenylalanine-and tyrosine-rich proteins (37).…”

Section: Differentially Expressed Unigenes In the Phase-and Organ-spementioning

confidence: 99%

The analysis of large-scale gene expression correlated to the phase changes of the migratory locust

Kang

Chen

Zhou

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

187

218

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The migratory locust is one of the most notorious agricultural pests that undergo a well known reversible, density-dependent phase transition from the solitary to the gregarious. To demonstrate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the phase change, we generated 76,012 ESTs from the whole body and dissected organs in the two phases. Comparing 12,161 unigene clusters, we identified 532 genes as phase-related (P < 0.01). Comprehensive assessment of the phase-related expression revealed that, whereas most of the genes in various categories from hind legs and the midgut are down-regulated in the gregarious phase, several gene classes in the head are impressively up-regulated, including those with peptidase, receptor, and oxygen-binding activities and those related to development, cell growth, and responses to external stimuli. Among them, a superfamily of proteins, the JHPH superfamily, which includes juvenile hormone-binding protein, hexamerins, prophenoloxidase, and hemocyanins, were highly expressed in the heads of the gregarious hoppers and hind legs of the solitary hoppers. Quantitative PCR experiments confirmed in part the EST results. These differentially regulated genes have strong functional implications that numerous molecular activities are involved in phase plasticity. This study provides ample molecular markers and genomic information on hemimetabolous insects and insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of phase changes in locusts.solitary phase ͉ gregarious phase ͉ EST ͉ unigene

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Insect pheromones—an overview of biosynthesis and endocrine regulation

Cited by 508 publications

References 300 publications

Cuticular Hydrocarbons Provide Reliable Cues of Fertility in the Ant Gnamptogenys striatula

Cuticular Hydrocarbons Provide Reliable Cues of Fertility in the Ant Gnamptogenys striatula

Gene-silencing reveals the functional significance of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBAN-R) in a male moth

The analysis of large-scale gene expression correlated to the phase changes of the migratory locust

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