EFFECT OF THE PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS ACTIVATING NEUROPEPTIDE ON SEX-PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS IN SPODOPTERA-LITTORALIS ISOLATED GLANDS

The control of Spodoptera littoralis sex pheromone biosynthesis has be en investigated with synthetic pheromone biosynthesis activating neuro peptide (PBAN) and different labeled tracers using an in vitro isolate d gland system. Responsiveness of the glands to PBAN stimulation was i mpaired by careless tissue manipulation. The fact that PBAN is active in the isolated gland system suggests that this might be a target orga n for this peptide in S. littoralis. As reported previously with Br-SO G extracts and intact females, label incorporation into the pheromone increased in glands treated with PBAN from all the precursors tested. However, the formation of labeled intermediates from d(5)E11-14:Acid a lso occurred in glands incubated in the absence of the peptide, but th e amounts of d(5)Z9,E11-14:Acid were lower in PBAN treated glands than in controls. These results indicate that PBAN controls pheromone bios ynthesis in S. littoralis by regulating the reduction of acyl moieties . (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.