Regulatory Mechanism of Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Lepidoptera

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Recent biological research has revealed that lepidopterous sex pheromones are biosynthesized from the corresponding fatty acids in pheromone glands, and that the biosynthesis was controlled by a hormone named pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) which is produced from 33 amino acids in the head of moths. Based on these findings we investigated the regulatory mechanism of biosynthesis of bombykol, sex pheromone of the silkworm moth (Bombyx mori), and following results were obtained. (1) An amidated C-terminal pentapeptide, PBAN(29-33)-NH_2 (H-Phe-Ser-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH_2) has pheromonotropic activity. (2) PBAN is not produced in brain, but in suboesophageal ganglion (SG). (3) The target organ of PBAN is the pheromone gland in the virgin female moth, and any nerve systems do not regulate the bombykol biosynthesis. (4) PBAN accelerates the reduction of an acyl group in the biosynthetic pathway. (5) PBAN has an activity to reproduce the pheromone in the mating females, indicating mating inhibits secretion of the hormone from SG. (6) 11,12-Methlenehexa- dec-11-enoic acid, synthesized from 1-hexyne, inhibits the step of DELTA11-desaturation in the bombykol biosynthesis.