Linoleic acid and stearic acid are biosynthetic precursors of (7Z,10Z)-7,10-hexadecadienal, the major component of the sex pheromone of Chilecomadia valdiviana (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

PLoS One. 2019 Apr 23;14(4):e0215769. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215769. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The main pheromone compound of Chilecomadia valdiviana (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) has been recently identified as (7Z,10Z)-7,10-hexadecadienal. The biosynthesis of this pheromone compound showing attributes of both Type I and Type II lepidopteran pheromones was studied by the topical application of isotope-labeled fatty acids to the pheromone gland and subsequent analysis of the gland contents (pheromone compounds and fatty acyl compounds) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The deuterium label of D11-linoleic acid was incorporated into the pheromone compound and its putative acyl precursor (7Z,10Z)-7,10-hexadecadienoate, demonstrating that the pheromone compound is biosynthesized from linoleic acid by chain-shortening and further functional group transformation. Furthermore, the deuterium label of D3-stearic acid was also incorporated into the pheromone compound, which indicates that the pheromone can be synthesized de novo by C. valdiviana, as is the case for Type I lepidopteran pheromone compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkadienes / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Linoleic Acid / metabolism*
  • Moths / metabolism*
  • Scent Glands / metabolism
  • Sex Attractants / biosynthesis*
  • Stearic Acids / metabolism*

Substances

  • Alkadienes
  • Sex Attractants
  • Stearic Acids
  • stearic acid
  • Linoleic Acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (Fondecyt, www.fondecyt.cl) (grant 1140779 to JB). HH is grateful for a doctoral fellowship (21130375) by Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Conicyt, www.conicyt.cl). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.