Sex pheromone biosynthetic pathways are conserved between moths and the butterfly Bicyclus anynana.

ABSTRACT: Although phylogenetically nested within the moths, butterflies have diverged extensively in a number of life history traits. Whereas moths rely greatly on chemical signals, visual advertisement is the hallmark of mate finding in butterflies. In the context of courtship, however, male chemical signals are widespread in both groups although they likely have multiple evolutionary origins. Here, we report that in males of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana, courtship scents are produced de novo via biosynthetic pathways shared with females of many moth species. We show that two of the pheromone components that play a major role in mate choice, namely the (Z)-9-tetradecenol and hexadecanal, are produced through the activity of a fatty acyl Δ11-desaturase and two specialized alcohol-forming fatty ac

SUBMITTER: Lienard MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4050330 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature