title: Novel sex pheromone desaturases in the genomes of corn borers generated through gene duplication and retroposon fusion.
abstract: The biosynthesis of female moth sex pheromone blends is controlled by a number of different enzymes, many of which are encoded by members of multigene families. One such multigene family, the acyl-CoA desaturases, is composed of certain genes that function as key players in moth sex pheromone biosynthesis. Although much is known regarding the function of some of these genes, very little is known regarding how novel genes have evolved within this family and how this might impact the establishment of new sex pheromone blends within a species. We have discovered that several cryptic Delta11 and Delta14 desaturase genes exist in the genomes of the European and Asian corn borers (Ostrinia nubilalis and Ostrinia furnacalis, respectively). Furthermore, an entirely novel class of desaturase gene has arisen in the Ostrinia lineage and is derived from duplication of the Delta11 desaturase gene and subsequent fusion with a retroposon. Interestingly, the genes have been maintained over relatively long evolutionary time periods in corn borer genomes, and they have not been recognizably pseudogenized, suggesting that they maintain functional integrity. The existence of cryptic desaturase genes in moth genomes indicates that the evolution of moth sex pheromone desaturases in general is much more complex than previously recognized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA.
authors.forename: Bingye
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Alejandro P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajikawa
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Wendell L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Roelofs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D020440:Gene Duplication; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018626:Retroelements; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018626:Retroelements; D012724:Sex Attractants; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases