Molecular aspects of pheromone evolution in moths
(2002)- Abstract
- Moths rely on the sense of smell (olfaction) as the main sensory input system in search for potential food sources and in selection of suitable females by males. Specific pheromones are fundamental to the reproductive isolation of species and consequently the olfactory system of moths has evolved to a high level of sensitivity and specificity. This thesis investigates differences between two pheromone types found in geometrid and noctuid moths. These two pheromone types are based on olefinic acetate and polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components that differ in biosynthesis. Olefinic acetates are biosynthesised from palmitic acid while the polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components are biosynthesised from linoleic or linolenic acid. To... (More)
- Moths rely on the sense of smell (olfaction) as the main sensory input system in search for potential food sources and in selection of suitable females by males. Specific pheromones are fundamental to the reproductive isolation of species and consequently the olfactory system of moths has evolved to a high level of sensitivity and specificity. This thesis investigates differences between two pheromone types found in geometrid and noctuid moths. These two pheromone types are based on olefinic acetate and polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components that differ in biosynthesis. Olefinic acetates are biosynthesised from palmitic acid while the polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components are biosynthesised from linoleic or linolenic acid. To examine the evolution of these pheromone types within the geometrid moth family I constructed a phylogenetic tree based on 'neutral' genes. The combination of the phylogenetic tree with current knowledge about the two pheromone types, revealed that subfamilies within the geometrids have changed at least twice from one pheromone type to another. In addition, I examined if species that use different pheromone components also differ in their pheromone binding proteins (PBPs). Pheromone-binding proteins are soluble proteins, which increase the capture and the solubilization of pheromone molecules in the lymph surrounding the olfactory receptors. PBPs have been identified for several species of moths, among which also noctuid species. The Noctuid PBPs that identified so far, are divided into two groups, a conserved and a more variable group. These different PBP groups originate from gene duplication; the genes encoding PBPs in Agrotis ipsilon and Agrotis segetum all comprise three exons and two introns but differ in length, mostly in intron 2. It has been hypothesised that the differences between PBPs from the two groups and between PBPs from different species were related to their pheromone system. Species using the same main pheromone components could have similar PBPs. Phylogenetic analysis of all known PBPs supported this hypothesis for the noctuid PBPs that use olefinic acetate pheromone components. For this reason, I therefore attempted to identify PBPs for the geometrids Idaea aversata and Bupalus piniaria, and the closely related drepanid Cilix glaucata, which represent both the olefinic acetate and the polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone types. From partial sequences I found that these PBPs belong to the non-noctuid group of PBPs that show high similarity when the species are closely related, regardless of the pheromone types they represent. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/464704
- author
- Abraham, David LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Prof Vogt, R. G., Department of Biological sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA
- organization
- publishing date
- 2002
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Ekologi, 28S genephylogenetic reconstruction pheromone types, ND1 genes, PBP, Pheromone-binding protein genes, Drepanidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae, Lepidoptera, Insect, Evolution, Olfaction, Ecology
- pages
- 164 pages
- publisher
- David Abraham, Ekologihuset, Sölvegatan, 37, 223 62 Lund,
- defense location
- Blå hallen, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- defense date
- 2002-05-24 10:00:00
- external identifiers
-
- other:ISRN: SE-LUNBDS/NBKE-02/1026+164pp
- ISBN
- 91-7105-174-0
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Article: I: Abraham D., Ryrholm N., Wittzell H., Holloway J.D., Scoble M.J., and Löfstedt C. (2001). Molecular phylogeny of the subfamilies in Geometridae (Geometroidea: Lepidoptera). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 20:65-77. Article: II: Abraham D., Picimbon J.-F., and Löfstedt C. A phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolution of different pheromone types within Geometridae (manuscript). Article: III: Abraham D., Löfstedt C., and Picimbon J.-F. Molecular evolution and gene characterization of Grp1 and Grp2 pheromone binding proteins in moths (submitted). Article: IV: Abraham D., Löfstedt C., and Picimbon J.-F. Divergence of Pheromone binding protein genes in the Turnip moth Agrotis segetum (submitted). Article: V: Abraham D., Löfstedt C., and Picimbon J.-F. Pheromone binding proteins of geometrid moths with different pheromone types (manuscript).
- id
- 40e65a6e-2f67-4d81-b243-a238f1a4069c (old id 464704)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 10:49:59
- date last changed
- 2020-09-23 15:07:03
@phdthesis{40e65a6e-2f67-4d81-b243-a238f1a4069c,
abstract = {{Moths rely on the sense of smell (olfaction) as the main sensory input system in search for potential food sources and in selection of suitable females by males. Specific pheromones are fundamental to the reproductive isolation of species and consequently the olfactory system of moths has evolved to a high level of sensitivity and specificity. This thesis investigates differences between two pheromone types found in geometrid and noctuid moths. These two pheromone types are based on olefinic acetate and polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components that differ in biosynthesis. Olefinic acetates are biosynthesised from palmitic acid while the polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone components are biosynthesised from linoleic or linolenic acid. To examine the evolution of these pheromone types within the geometrid moth family I constructed a phylogenetic tree based on 'neutral' genes. The combination of the phylogenetic tree with current knowledge about the two pheromone types, revealed that subfamilies within the geometrids have changed at least twice from one pheromone type to another. In addition, I examined if species that use different pheromone components also differ in their pheromone binding proteins (PBPs). Pheromone-binding proteins are soluble proteins, which increase the capture and the solubilization of pheromone molecules in the lymph surrounding the olfactory receptors. PBPs have been identified for several species of moths, among which also noctuid species. The Noctuid PBPs that identified so far, are divided into two groups, a conserved and a more variable group. These different PBP groups originate from gene duplication; the genes encoding PBPs in Agrotis ipsilon and Agrotis segetum all comprise three exons and two introns but differ in length, mostly in intron 2. It has been hypothesised that the differences between PBPs from the two groups and between PBPs from different species were related to their pheromone system. Species using the same main pheromone components could have similar PBPs. Phylogenetic analysis of all known PBPs supported this hypothesis for the noctuid PBPs that use olefinic acetate pheromone components. For this reason, I therefore attempted to identify PBPs for the geometrids Idaea aversata and Bupalus piniaria, and the closely related drepanid Cilix glaucata, which represent both the olefinic acetate and the polyenic hydrocarbon pheromone types. From partial sequences I found that these PBPs belong to the non-noctuid group of PBPs that show high similarity when the species are closely related, regardless of the pheromone types they represent.}},
author = {{Abraham, David}},
isbn = {{91-7105-174-0}},
keywords = {{Ekologi; 28S genephylogenetic reconstruction pheromone types; ND1 genes; PBP; Pheromone-binding protein genes; Drepanidae; Noctuidae; Geometridae; Lepidoptera; Insect; Evolution; Olfaction; Ecology}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{David Abraham, Ekologihuset, Sölvegatan, 37, 223 62 Lund,}},
school = {{Lund University}},
title = {{Molecular aspects of pheromone evolution in moths}},
year = {{2002}},
}