Insect herbivore-produced elicitors of plant defense reactions

脂肪酸-氨基酸共轭物（FAC）首次从夜蛾幼虫的反刍物中分离得到，其作为植物诱导反应的启动子的作用已被广泛报道。然而，对FACs在昆虫体内的生物合成和生理作用的研究很少。我们利用^<14> c标记的谷氨酰胺、谷氨酸和亚麻酸对斜纹夜蛾幼虫的摄食研究，并结合组织分析发现，鳞翅目幼虫体内含有谷氨酰胺的FACs在氮同化中起着积极的作用，肠道内含有谷氨酰胺的FACs可能是谷氨酰胺的一种储存形式。

Since the first fatty acid amino acid conjugate (FAC) was isolated from regurgitant of Spodoptera exigua larvae, their role as elicitors of induced responses in plants has been well documented. However, studies of the biosyntheses as well as the physiological role of FACs in the insect have been minimal. By utilizing ^<14>C-labeled glutamine, glutamic acid and linolenic acid in feeding studies of S.litura larvae, combined with tissue analyses, we found that FACs play an active role in nitrogen assimilation in Lepidoptera larva and that glutamine containing FACs in the gut lumen may function as a form of storage of glutamine.