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 been investigated with synthetic pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and different labeled tracers using an in vitro isolated gland system. Responsiveness of the glands to PBAN stimulation was impaired by careless tissue manipulation. The fact that PBAN is active in the isolated gland system suggests that this might be a target organ for this peptide in S. littoralis. As reported previously with Br-SOG 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 also occurred in glands incubated in the absence of the peptide, but the amounts of d(5)Z9,E11-14:Acid were lower in PBAN treated glands than in controls. These results indicate that PBAN controls pheromone biosynthesis in S. littoralis by regulating the reduction of acyl moieties. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.