Evolution of moth sex pheromones via ancestral genes.
Mate finding in most moth species involves long-distance signaling via female-emitted sex pheromones. There is a great diversity of pheromone structures used throughout the Lepidoptera, even among closely related species. The conundrum is how signal divergence has occurred. With strong normalizing selection pressure on blend composition and response preferences, it is improbable that shifts to pheromones of diverse structures occur through adaptive changes in small steps. Here, we present data supporting the hypothesis that a major shift in the pheromone of an Ostrinia species occurred by activation of a nonfunctional desaturase gene transcript present in the pheromone gland. We also demonstrate the existence of rare males that respond to the new pheromone blend. Their presence would allow for asymmetric tracking of male response to the new blend and, thus, evolution of an Ostrinia species with structurally different sex pheromone components.
Roelofs
Wendell L
WL
Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA. wlr1@cornell.edu
Liu
Weitian
W
Hao
Guixia
G
Jiao
Hongmei
H
Rooney
Alejandro P
AP
Linn
Charles E
CE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012724:Sex Attractants; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases