title: Male-to-female transfer of 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside during mating in Zygaena filipendulae (Lepidoptera).
abstract: Zygaena filipendulae accumulates the cyanogenic glucosides linamarin and lotaustralin by larval sequestration from the food plant or de novo biosynthesis. We have previously demonstrated that the Z. filipendulae male transfers linamarin and lotaustralin to the female in the course of mating. In this study we report the additional transfer of 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside (5-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-L-Tryptophan) from the Z. filipendulae male internal genitalia to the female spermatophore around 5 h into the mating process. 5-Hydroxytryptophan glucoside is present in the virgin male internal genitalia, and production continues during the early phase of mating. Following initiation of 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside transfer to the female, the amount in male internal genitalia is drastically reduced until after mating where it is slowly replenished. For unambiguous structural identification, 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside was chemically synthesized and used as an authentic standard. The biological function of 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside remains to be established, although we have indications that it may be involved in inducing the female to stay in copula and delay egg-laying to prevent re-mating of the female. To our knowledge 5-hydroxytryptophan glucoside has not previously been reported present in animal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 40 Thorvaldsensvej, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark; Villum Research Center "Plant Plasticity", Denmark. Electronic address: miz@life.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagrobelny
authors.forename: Mohammed Saddik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Motawia
authors.forename: Carl Erik
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Birger Lindberg
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan
keywords: 5-Hydroxytryptophan glucoside; Insect; Mating; Nuptial gift; Spermatophore; Zygaena filipendulae