Co-Authors:
Rafaeli, A., Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Abstract:
Pheromones are chemicals emitted to send messages to individuals of the samespecies. Much of the research on chemical communication systems in insects has focusedon moths in the order Lepidoptera, which is the second largest insect order with well overa hundred thousand described species. Most of the hundreds of species studied have beenfound to use a long-distance chemical communication system for attracting mates and themost widely explored are the sex-pheromones of female moths. The discovery ofpheromones and their binding proteins have impacted Lepidopteran biology, and neuralencoding, processing and integration of olfactory signals from mates are areas in whichLepidoptera continue to serve as important models. Moreover, the exploitation and theuse of molecular techniques in the post genomics era have led to many advances inseveral aspects of moth pheromone research viz. the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways;the identification of key enzymes therein; the regulatory physiology of pheromonebiosynthesis; the role of G-protein coupled receptors in the initiation and inhibition ofthese pathways and the role that pheromones play in the speciation process. Reproductivebehavior in moths relies on the synchronization of various environmental andphysiological events that influence the timing of sexual activities between the males andfemales. Receptivity in most female moths is broadcasted by the release of a uniqueblend of fatty acid-derived volatile sex-pheromones when they extrude their pheromoneglands thereby assuming typical calling behavior. This behavior occurs only at specifictimes of the photoperiod, typically during the night (scotophase) and only then is sexpheromonebiosynthesis initiated. The insect's neuroendocrine system is a major regulator of many physiological functions including mating-behavior. Environmental andinternal signals such as age, photoperiod, temperature, mating history and host plantvolatiles signal the neuroendocrine system to induce downstream events affecting sexpheromoneproduction. The release of a pheromone-biosynthesis activating neuropeptide(PBAN) into the hemolymph up-regulates the biosynthesis of fatty acid derivedcompounds. Once the female sex-pheromones are emitted, the males perceive and orienttowards the source of the volatile. On reaching the females, males of several speciesdisplay their hair-pencil complexes. The hair-pencil complexes also contain pheromonalcompounds that are related structurally to the female sex-pheromones. These compoundsplay an essential role for successful mating. Mating affects subsequent femalereproductive behavior and the production and release of sex-pheromone is suppressed.This phenomenon has been attributed to the transfer of seminal peptides to the femaleduring copulation. In this review I will provide background on the biosynthesis of sexpheromonesand will focus on elements of regulation with particular focus on thecharacterization and mode of action of the Pheromone-Biosynthesis ActivatingNeuropeptide (PBAN) and its receptor. I will delve on inhibitory processes such as theoutcome of female receptivity after mating and the action of seminal peptides such as SexPeptide on its receptor. With our increasing understanding of the regulatory physiologyof reproductive behavior we encounter several avenues that could be utilized for thedisruption of female receptivity and prevention of subsequent successful mating events,avenues that I will explore as possibilities in the future development of new matingcontrol or disruption strategies for field application against moth pests. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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