title: The regulation of Δ11-desaturase gene expression in the pheromone gland of Mamestra brassicae (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) during pheromonogenesis.
abstract: Cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) females produce sex pheromones to attract conspecific males. In our M. brassicae colony, the pheromone blend is composed of Z11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16Ac) and hexadecyl acetate (16Ac) in a 93:7 ratio. A fatty acyl Δ11-desaturase is involved in the production of the main pheromone component. The release of Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN) regulates the pheromone production in the pheromone gland (PG). We cloned a cDNA encoding the MambrΔ11-desaturase and analyzed its expression profile over time in M. brassicae tissues. Transcript levels of the Δ11-desaturase in larvae, pupal PGs, fat body, brain and muscle tissues were <0.1% of that in female PGs, whereas expression in male genitalia was 2%. In the PGs of virgin females the expression level increased continuously from eclosion to the end of the 1st day when it reached a plateau without further significant fluctuation up to the 8th day. In contrast, we recorded a characteristic daily rhythmicity in pheromone production with a maximum around 200 ng Z11-16Ac/PG. In some experiments, females were decapitated to prevent PBAN release and thereby inhibit pheromone production, which remarkably increased after treatment with Mambr-Pheromonotropin. Further experiments revealed that mating resulted in a significant suppression of pheromone production. However, expression of the Δ11-desaturase was not affected by any of these interventions, suggesting that it's not regulated by PBAN. Fluorescent microscopy was used to study the potential role of lipid droplets during pheromone production, however, no lipid droplets were identified indicating that pheromonogenesis is regulated via de novo fatty acid synthesis.
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Köblös
authors: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Analysis Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Dankó
authors: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Analysis Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Kitti
authors: K
authors: Sipos
authors: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Horticultural Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, H-1118 Ménesi út, 44, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Ágnes
authors: Á
authors: Geiger
authors: Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Szlanka
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: József
authors: J
authors: Fodor
authors: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Analysis Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: fonagy.adrien@agrar.mta.hu.
authors: Adrien
authors: A
authors: Fónagy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012724:Sex Attractants; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases
keywords: Mamestra brassicae; Pheromone biosynthesis; Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN); Pheromone gland (PG); Pheromonotropin (PT); Δ11-desaturase gene expression