U.S.-Bulgaria Cooperative Research on Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Moths

这个美国-保加利亚合作研究奖是为了表彰一个名为“蛾性信息素生物合成”的项目。主要研究人员是爱荷华州立大学的Russell Jurenka博士和保加利亚科学院动物研究所的Mitko Subahev博士。信息素是一种化合物，由一个个体释放，以影响另一个个体的行为。雌蛾使用性信息素来远距离吸引非特定雄蛾。这些性信息素是由雌蛾生物合成和释放的化学物质的特定物种混合物。虽然信息素在飞蛾体内的识别、产生和接收已经得到了很好的研究，但基本的问题仍然是这种通信系统是如何进化的，以及这些化学物质是如何生物合成的。研究人员建议确定雌蛾(传播蛾、长翅蛾和吉普赛蛾)是如何制造碳氢信息素成分的。虽然有几类蛾只使用碳氢化合物作为性信息素，但作为本研究目标的蛾的生物合成具有独特的甲基分支和不饱和信息素成分，并且它们的生物合成在任何昆虫中都没有被鉴定出来。作为拟议合作的结果，研究人员将确定这些性信息素成分的独特生物合成途径。这项昆虫学研究实现了将美国和保加利亚的顶尖专家聚集在一起，在平等互利和互惠互利的基础上，在共同利益和能力强的领域结合互补努力和能力的计划目标。

INT-9813419JurenkaThis U.S.-Bulgaria Cooperative Research award is for a project on "Sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths." The principal investigators are Dr. Russell Jurenka of Iowa State University and Dr. Mitko Subahev of the Institute of Zoology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Pheromones are compounds released by one individual to affect the behavior of another individual. Female moths use sex pheromones for the long-range attraction of Nonspecific males. These sex pheromones are species-specific blends of chemicals biosynthesized and released by female moths. While pheromone identification, production, and reception in moths is well-studied, basic questions remain on how this communication system has evolved and how these chemicals are biosynthesized. The researchers propose to identify how the female moths (Herald moth, Scoliopteryx libatrix, and Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar) make a hydrocarbon pheromone component. While several groups of moths use hydrocarbons exclusively as sex pheromones, the biosynthesis of moths that are targets of this research have unique methyl branched and unsaturated pheromone components and their biosynthesis has not be identified in any insect. As a result of the proposed collaboration, the researchers will be identifying unique biosynthetic pathways for the production of these sex pheromone components.This research in entomology fulfills the program objectives of bringing together leading experts in the U.S. and Bulgaria to combine complementary efforts and capabilities in areas of strong mutual interest and competence on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutuality of benefit.