Study on mechanisms for production and reception of epoxy sex pheromones produced by Geometrid moths

尺蛾科的雌蛾产生具有直链的多不饱和烃的顺式环氧化物。使用氘标记化合物的体内实验揭示了信息素生物合成中单环氧化步骤酶的底物特异性。对未交配雌虫的血淋巴进行了分析，发现了环氧信息素的前体。信息素在腺体外通过血淋巴运输到腺体进行完美的生物合成。这种生产系统不同于蚕蛾的生产系统。此外，对孵育的信息素腺体的实验表明，信息素的产生受食道下神经节分泌的激素（信息素生物合成激活神经肽，PBAN）的调节。神经肽不会刺激环氧化酶，但会激活碳氢化合物进入腺体的运输。雄蛾触角中含有信息素结合蛋白（PBP）。该基因序列与家蚕PBP具有高度同源性（约80%），6个半胱氨酸残基位置保守。为了了解嗅觉感知的机制，人们正在研究其结合特异性和功能。环氧信息素也从其他科的雌性中鉴定出来；即夜蛾科、夜蛾科和毒蛾科。这些科包括大量的物种，预计一些雌性会产生进一步的修饰化合物。我们成功地鉴定出了具有两个环氧环或一个反环氧环的环氧性信息素的新成分，为环氧性信息素的研究提供了新的研究对象。

Female moths in the family of Geometridae produce cis-epoxides of poly-unsaturated hydrocarbons with a straight chain. In vivo experiments using deuterium-labeled compound revealed substrate specificity of enzymes for a step of mono-epoxidation in the pheromone biosynthesis. Analysis of hemolymph of the virgin females showed occurrence of the hydrocarbons, indicating that the precursors of the epoxy pheromones were produced.outside of the pheromone gland and transported to the gland via hemolymph for perfection of the biosynthesis. This production system is different from that proposed for the silkworm moth. Furthermore, experiments with incubated pheromone glands showed that the pheromone production was regulated by a hormone (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, PBAN) secreted from a subesophageal ganglion. The neuropeptide did not stimulate the epoxidation enzyme, but activate transport of the hydrocarbons into the glands.The antennae of male moths include pheromone-binding protein (PBP). The amino acid sequence of a gerometrid PBP showed positional conservation of six cysteine residues and high homology (about 80 %) with the PBP of the silkworm moth. In order to understand the mechanism of olfactory perception, its binding specificity and function is studying.Epoxy pheromones have been also identified from females in other families ; I.e. Noctuidae, Arctiidae, and Lymantriidae. These families include a large number of species, and it is expected that some females produced further modified compounds. From two lymantriid species in, we successfully identified novel pheromone components with two epoxy rings or a trans-epoxy ring, which offered new interesting subjects for research of the epoxy sex pheromones.