Pheromone biosynthetic pathways in the moths Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa assulta.

TitlePheromone biosynthetic pathways in the moths Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa assulta.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsChoi, M-Y, Han, KSik, Boo, KSaeng, Jurenka, RA
JournalInsect Biochem Mol Biol
Volume32
Issue11
Pagination1353-9
Date Published2002 Nov
ISSN0965-1748
KeywordsAnimals, Deuterium, Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Moths, Pheromones, Radioisotope Dilution Technique, Species Specificity
Abstract

Sex pheromones of many Lepidopteran species have relatively simple structures consisting of a hydrocarbon chain with a functional group and usually one to several double bonds. The sex pheromones are usually derived from fatty acids through a specific biosynthetic pathway. We investigated the incorporation of deuterium-labeled palmitic and stearic acid precursors into pheromone components of Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa assulta. The major pheromone component for H. zea is (Z)11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald) while H. assulta utilizes (Z)9-hexadecenal (Z9-16:Ald). We found that H. zea uses palmitic acid to form Z11-16:Ald via delta 11 desaturation and reduction, but also requires stearic acid to biosynthesize the minor pheromone components Z9-16:Ald and Z7-16:Ald. The Z9-16:Ald is produced by delta 11 desaturation of stearic acid followed by one round of chain-shortening and reduction to the aldehyde. The Z7-16:Ald is produced by delta 9 desaturation of stearic acid followed by one round of chain-shortening and reduction to the aldehyde. H. assulta uses palmitic acid as a substrate to form Z9-16:Ald, Z11-16:Ald and 16:Ald. The amount of labeling indicated that the delta 9 desaturase is the major desaturase present in the pheromone gland cells of H. assulta; whereas, the delta 11 desaturase is the major desaturase in pheromone glands of H. zea. It also appears that H. assulta lacks chain-shortening enzymes since stearic acid did not label any of the 16-carbon aldehydes.

Alternate JournalInsect Biochem. Mol. Biol.
PubMed ID12530203