Search for semiochemicals of honeybee (Apis mellifera)

本研究旨在寻找在蜜蜂群体中对维持等级具有各种重要功能和作用的符号化学物质。这项研究不是在蜂王的下颌腺中寻找化学物质，而是从大量的蜂王浆中寻找信息素的前体。分离得到7种手性羟基脂肪酸。有趣的是，除了3-羟基脂肪酸，所有的手性酸都以光学异构体的形式存在于蜂王浆中。考虑到9-ODA和9-HDA之间的关系，我们预计这些手性酸是半化学物质的前体，其相应的氧合形式可能在蜜蜂群体的等级结构中发挥重要的生理功能和作用。我们将对这些化合物的生物活性进行研究。

This study was undertaken to search for semiochemicals, which have various important functions and roles for caste maintenance in honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera). Rather than looking for semiochemicals in the mandibular glands of the queen bee, this study involves the search for precursors of pheromones from large quantities of royal jelly. Seven chiral hydroxy fatty acids were isolated. Interestingly enough, except for 3-hydroxyl fatty acid, all chiral acids are present in royal jelly as optical isomers. Considering the relationship between 9-ODA and 9-HDA, it is expected that these chiral acids are precursors of semiochemicals, and that their corresponding oxo-forms may play physiologically important functions and roles in the hierarchy of honeybee colonies. The biological activities of these compounds will be examined.