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De Novo Biosynthesis of Sexual Pheromone in the Labial Gland of Bumblebee Males
Author(s) -
Žáček Petr,
PrchalováHorňáková Darina,
Tykva Richard,
Kindl Jiří,
Vogel Heiko,
Svatoš Aleš,
Pichová Iva,
Valterová Irena
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201200684
Subject(s) - biosynthesis , bombus terrestris , bumblebee , pheromone , biology , sex pheromone , biochemistry , gene , fatty acid , messenger rna , in vitro , botany , pollen , pollinator , pollination
De novo biosynthesis of male sex pheromone from two bumblebee species ( Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum ) was studied by using in vitro incubations of labial glands (LGs) with radioactive [1,2‐ 14 C]acetate and deuterated [D 3 ]acetate. The labeled substrate was incorporated into several types of compounds, such as terpenic alcohols, fatty acids, esters, and hydrocarbons. A similar incubation of [1,2‐ 14 C]acetate with fat bodies (FB) led to the formation of fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), and hydrocarbons. To support the results from in vitro incubations, PCR analysis of fatty acid synthase (FAS) transcripts in LG and FB was performed. Relative quantification of FAS transcription levels revealed that the abundance of mRNA from the FAS gene is a function of the age of B. terrestris males. A comparison of the relative FAS mRNA gene transcription level in FB and LGs of B. terrestris and B. lucorum males proved that high biosynthetic activity takes place in the LGs of both species. Together, these results indicate that pheromone components are synthesized de novo in the LG.

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