Publications

• Evolution of moth sex pheromones via ancestral genes.

  Roelofs W.L., Liu W., Hao G., Jiao H., Rooney A.P., Linn C.E. Jr.

  Mate finding in most moth species involves long-distance signaling via female-emitted sex pheromones. There is a great diversity of pheromone structures used throughout the Lepidoptera, even among closely related species. The conundrum is how signal divergence has occurred. With strong normalizing ... >> More

  Mate finding in most moth species involves long-distance signaling via female-emitted sex pheromones. There is a great diversity of pheromone structures used throughout the Lepidoptera, even among closely related species. The conundrum is how signal divergence has occurred. With strong normalizing selection pressure on blend composition and response preferences, it is improbable that shifts to pheromones of diverse structures occur through adaptive changes in small steps. Here, we present data supporting the hypothesis that a major shift in the pheromone of an Ostrinia species occurred by activation of a nonfunctional desaturase gene transcript present in the pheromone gland. We also demonstrate the existence of rare males that respond to the new pheromone blend. Their presence would allow for asymmetric tracking of male response to the new blend and, thus, evolution of an Ostrinia species with structurally different sex pheromone components. << Less

  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:13621-13626(2002) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Novel sex pheromone desaturases in the genomes of corn borers generated through gene duplication and retroposon fusion.

  Xue B., Rooney A.P., Kajikawa M., Okada N., Roelofs W.L.

  The biosynthesis of female moth sex pheromone blends is controlled by a number of different enzymes, many of which are encoded by members of multigene families. One such multigene family, the acyl-CoA desaturases, is composed of certain genes that function as key players in moth sex pheromone bios ... >> More

  The biosynthesis of female moth sex pheromone blends is controlled by a number of different enzymes, many of which are encoded by members of multigene families. One such multigene family, the acyl-CoA desaturases, is composed of certain genes that function as key players in moth sex pheromone biosynthesis. Although much is known regarding the function of some of these genes, very little is known regarding how novel genes have evolved within this family and how this might impact the establishment of new sex pheromone blends within a species. We have discovered that several cryptic Delta11 and Delta14 desaturase genes exist in the genomes of the European and Asian corn borers (Ostrinia nubilalis and Ostrinia furnacalis, respectively). Furthermore, an entirely novel class of desaturase gene has arisen in the Ostrinia lineage and is derived from duplication of the Delta11 desaturase gene and subsequent fusion with a retroposon. Interestingly, the genes have been maintained over relatively long evolutionary time periods in corn borer genomes, and they have not been recognizably pseudogenized, suggesting that they maintain functional integrity. The existence of cryptic desaturase genes in moth genomes indicates that the evolution of moth sex pheromone desaturases in general is much more complex than previously recognized. << Less

  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:4467-4472(2007) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Alternative suppression of transcription from two desaturase genes is the key for species-specific sex pheromone biosynthesis in two Ostrinia moths.

  Sakai R., Fukuzawa M., Nakano R., Tatsuki S., Ishikawa Y.

  Crossing of two Ostrinia moths that use different positional isomers as sex pheromone components revealed that species-specific pheromone is produced through alternative suppression of two pheromone gland-specific desaturases at the gene transcription level. The sex pheromone of Ostrinia scapulali ... >> More

  Crossing of two Ostrinia moths that use different positional isomers as sex pheromone components revealed that species-specific pheromone is produced through alternative suppression of two pheromone gland-specific desaturases at the gene transcription level. The sex pheromone of Ostrinia scapulalis (the adzuki bean borer) is a blend of (Z)-11- and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetates (Z/E11-14:OAc), whereas that of Ostrinia furnacalis (the Asian corn borer) is a blend of (Z)-12- and (E)-12-tetradecenyl acetates (Z/E12-14:OAc). Delta11-Desaturase is known to be involved in the biosynthesis of Z/E11-14:OAc, and Delta14-desaturase, in that of Z/E12-14:OAc. The F1 hybrid between O. scapulalis and O. furnacalis produced both parents' sex pheromone components (Z/E11-14:OAc and Z/E12-14:OAc). Although the two species have both Delta11- and Delta14-desaturase genes, transcription from the Delta14-desaturase gene was strongly suppressed in O. scapulalis, as was transcription from the Delta11-desaturase gene in O. furnacalis. Meanwhile, both genes were transcribed into mRNA in F1. The production/non-production of Z/E11-14:OAc and Z/E12-14:OAc in F1, F2, and backcross progenies could be explained by an autosomal locus that suppresses transcription from either the Delta11-desaturase or Delta14-desaturase gene. Based on the findings, the evolution of sex pheromone biosynthesis in O. scapulalis and O. furnacalis is discussed. << Less

  Insect Biochem Mol Biol 39:62-67(2009) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.