Male jeffrey pine beetle, Dendroctonus jeffreyi, synthesizes the pheromone component frontalin in anterior midgut tissue.
The male Jeffrey pine beetle, Dendroctonus jeffreyi Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), produces the bicyclic ketal frontalin as part of a complex semiochemical blend. A key regulated enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-R), showed high transcript levels in the anterior midgut of male Jeffrey pine beetles by in situ hybridization. HMG-R expression in this area of the alimentary canal was related to male emergence, where emerged males demonstrated significant up-regulation of HMG-R transcript and pre-emerged males showed only basal levels. Pre-emerged males were induced to express high levels of HMG-R transcript by treatment with juvenile hormone (JH) III. Additionally, isolated anterior midgut tissue from JH III-treated males converted radiolabeled acetate to frontalin, as assayed by radio-HPLC, providing strong evidence that this is the site of frontalin production in male beetles.
Hall
G M
GM
Department of Biochemistry/MS 330, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0014, USA.
Tittiger
C
C
Blomquist
G J
GJ
Andrews
G L
GL
Mastick
G S
GS
Barkawi
L S
LS
Bengoa
C
C
Seybold
S J
SJ
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D028223:Pinus / Q000469:parasitology*
D000085:Acetates; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D010675:Pheromones; C012327:frontalin