Intracellular signal transduction of PBAN action in the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura: effects of pharmacological agents on sex pheromone production in vitro.
Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) regulates sex pheromone production in the pheromone glands of many species of female moths. In order to probe the biochemical steps as well as underlying mechanisms regulated by PBAN, we have tested the effects of pharmacological agents on sex pheromone production of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, using an in vitro assay. Among the pharmacological agents we tested, ionomycin (calcium ionophore) alone stimulated sex pheromone production, while LaCl3 (calcium channel blocker), W-7, trifluoperazine (calmodulin inhibitor), NaF, and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (phosphatase inhibitor) suppressed the pheromone production by a pheromonotropic peptide, TKYFSPRLamide. By contrast, forskolin (adenylate cyclase activator), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (protein kinase C activator), and cyclic nucleotides alone failed to stimulate sex pheromone production. These results suggest that Ca2+/calmodulin complex and phosphoprotein phosphatase are involved in the signal transduction of PBAN action in S. litura.
Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Saitama, Japan.
S
S
Matsumoto
R
R
Ozawa
K
K
Uchiumi
M
M
Kurihara
T
T
Mitsui
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D007301:Insect Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic; D012724:Sex Attractants; C079709:pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, Helicoverpa zea