Nb. Fang et al., EFFECTS OF DECAPITATION AND PBAN INJECTION ON AMOUNTS OF TRIACYLGLYCEUOLS IN THE SEX-PHEROMONE GLAND OF MANDUCA-SEXTA (L), Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology, 32(2), 1996, pp. 249-260
The correlation between triacylglycerols containing conjugated diene f
atty acyl moieties and pheromone aldehydes in the sex pheromone glands
of females of Manduca sexta was investigated. Females decapitated 15
h after adult emergence neither called nor produced pheromone during t
he natural period of pheromone production on the subsequent two nights
. However, these females could be stimulated to produce sex pheromone
for prolonged periods by repeated injection of synthetic pheromone bio
synthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). Gas chromatographic analysis
of methanolysis products of lipids extracted from the pheromone gland
s of decapitated and intact females showed no differences in the amoun
ts of fatty acyl precursors of pheromone. High performance liquid chro
matographic analysis of the triacylglycerols containing conjugated die
ne analogues of the pheromone components (diene TG), obtained 24 and 4
8 h after decapitation, showed that the total amounts of these compone
nts were not affected by decapitation. The amounts of all diene TC pea
ks declined significantly when decapitated females were stimulated to
produce pheromone during a 7 h period by repeated injection of PBAN at
3 h intervals but recovered when pheromone production subsided. These
results indicate that PBAN induces liberation of pheromone precursors
from the triacylglycerols during pheromone biosynthesis but does not
induce replenishment of this storage pool. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.