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Multi-Functional Desaturases in Two Spodoptera Moths with ∆11 and ∆12 Desaturation Activities

Xia, Yi Han LU ; Zhang, Ya Nan ; Ding, Bao Jian LU ; Wang, Hong Lei LU and Löfstedt, Christer LU (2019) In Journal of Chemical Ecology 45(4). p.378-387
Abstract

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, uses (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate as the major component of its sex pheromone. Previous isotope-labeling experiments demonstrated an unusual ∆12 desaturase activity involved in the biosynthesis of this compound; however, the putative ∆12 desaturase gene has not been reported to date. In the present study, we confirmed this ∆12 desaturation pathway by in vivo labeling experiments, and characterized candidate desaturase genes in a yeast heterologous expression system. We demonstrated that a pheromone gland-specific desaturase, SexiDes5, uses palmitic acid and the subsequently chain-shortened product (Z)-9-tetradecenoic acid as substrates to produce (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and... (More)

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, uses (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate as the major component of its sex pheromone. Previous isotope-labeling experiments demonstrated an unusual ∆12 desaturase activity involved in the biosynthesis of this compound; however, the putative ∆12 desaturase gene has not been reported to date. In the present study, we confirmed this ∆12 desaturation pathway by in vivo labeling experiments, and characterized candidate desaturase genes in a yeast heterologous expression system. We demonstrated that a pheromone gland-specific desaturase, SexiDes5, uses palmitic acid and the subsequently chain-shortened product (Z)-9-tetradecenoic acid as substrates to produce (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienoic acids, respectively. In addition, the homologous desaturase SlitDes5 from the congeneric Spodoptera litura had analogous functions.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Pheromone biosynthesis, Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera litura, ∆11 desaturation, ∆12 desaturation
in
Journal of Chemical Ecology
volume
45
issue
4
pages
378 - 387
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85064257663
  • pmid:30937603
ISSN
0098-0331
DOI
10.1007/s10886-019-01067-3
project
Evolutionary mechanisms of pheromone divergence in Lepidoptera
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e07ef71f-8238-48c8-9977-fcd8b9abb90e
date added to LUP
2019-05-08 11:49:13
date last changed
2025-10-14 10:19:47
@article{e07ef71f-8238-48c8-9977-fcd8b9abb90e,
  abstract     = {{<p>The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, uses (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate as the major component of its sex pheromone. Previous isotope-labeling experiments demonstrated an unusual ∆12 desaturase activity involved in the biosynthesis of this compound; however, the putative ∆12 desaturase gene has not been reported to date. In the present study, we confirmed this ∆12 desaturation pathway by in vivo labeling experiments, and characterized candidate desaturase genes in a yeast heterologous expression system. We demonstrated that a pheromone gland-specific desaturase, SexiDes5, uses palmitic acid and the subsequently chain-shortened product (Z)-9-tetradecenoic acid as substrates to produce (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienoic acids, respectively. In addition, the homologous desaturase SlitDes5 from the congeneric Spodoptera litura had analogous functions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Xia, Yi Han and Zhang, Ya Nan and Ding, Bao Jian and Wang, Hong Lei and Löfstedt, Christer}},
  issn         = {{0098-0331}},
  keywords     = {{Pheromone biosynthesis; Spodoptera exigua; Spodoptera litura; ∆11 desaturation; ∆12 desaturation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{378--387}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Chemical Ecology}},
  title        = {{Multi-Functional Desaturases in Two Spodoptera Moths with ∆11 and ∆12 Desaturation Activities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10886-019-01067-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10886-019-01067-3}},
  volume       = {{45}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}