Isoprenoid pheromone biosynthesis regulation

Abstract Pheromones are utilized by many insects in a complex chemical communication system. This review will look at the biosynthesis of sex and aggregation pheromones in the model insects, moths, flies, cockroaches, and beetles. The biosynthetic pathways involve altered pathways of normal metabolism of fatty acids and isoprenoids. Endocrine regulation of the biosynthetic pathways will also be reviewed for the model insects. A neuropeptide named pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths. Juvenile hormone regulates pheromone production in the beetles and cockroaches, while 20-hydroxyecdysone regulates pheromone production in the flies. 

Figure 6.10 De novo biosynthesis of isoprenoid pheromone components by bark and ambrosia beetles through the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway. The end products are hemiterpenoid and monoterpenoid pheromone products common throughout the Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Figure 6.9A). The biosynthesis is regulated by juvenile hormone III (JH III), which is a sesquiterpenoid product of the same pathway. The stereochemistry of JH III is indicated as described in Schooley and Baker (1985). Although insects do not biosynthesize sterols de novo, they do produce a variety of derivatives of isopentenyl diphosphate, geranyl diphosphate, and farnesyl diphosphate. Figure adapted from Seybold and Tittiger (2003).

TILLMAN, J.A., LU, F., STAEHLE, L., DONALDSON, Z DWINELL, S.C., TITTIGER, C., HALL, G.M., STORER, A.J., BLOMQUIST, G.J., SEYBOLD, S.J., Juvenile hormone regulates de novo isoprenoid aggregation pheromone biosynthesis in pine bark beetles, Ips spp. (Coleoptera Scolytidae), through transcriptional control of HMG-CoA reductase, J. Chem. Ecol, 2004,30, 2335-2358. 

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