INHIBITORY EFFECT OF 10,11-METHYLENETETRADEC-10-ENOIC ACID ON A Z9-DESATURASE IN THE SEX-PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS OF SPODOPTERA-LITTORALIS

The effect of 10,11-methylenetetradec-10-enoic acid on the sex pheromo ne biosynthetic pathway of Spodoptera littoralis is reported. This new cyclopropene fatty acid inhibited the biosynthesis of the main pherom one component from labeled myristic acid. The study of each Z desatura tion step revealed that the Z9-desaturase of E11-14:Acid was inhibited , whereas the Z11-desaturase of 16:Acid was not affected. The results presented in this article agree with our hypothesis that the methylene hexadecenoic acids are beta-oxidized in the pheromone gland to the cor responding methylenetetradecenoic acids. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.