Moth, giant silkworm

A review by Trost describes the isolation, structural elucidation, and syntheses of juvenile hormone (11), obtained from the giant silkworm moth, Hyalophora... 

Cecropins. Cecropins (169) were isolated from the larval hemolymph of the giant silkworm moth, Hyalophora cecropia, on the basis of their antibacterial activity subsequent to bacterial injection. Cecropins are also produced by Drosophila (170) and the larva of the tobacco homworm, Manduca sexta (110). Similar compounds called sarcotoxins (171) are produced by the flesh fly, Sarcophaga. Cecropins (169) are specific for prokaryotic cell lysis in contrast to melittin, which lyses eukaryotic cell membranes as well. Cecropins are characterized structurally by a concentration of basic... 

Another example of a sesquiterpene-derived insect juvenile hormone is that of the giant silkworm moth, Hyalophora cecropia (Fig. 21.18). Several juvenile hormone mimics have been found in plants (Bowers, 1985,1991,1992 Fraga, 1991 Menn and Beroza, 1972). 

At the same time, several new compounds which would appear to be homoterpenoids have been discovered. Presumably the extra methyl groups present in compounds of this type are inserted into a terpenoid precursor in an analogous way to the in vivo elaboration of the ergostane-type and stigmastane-type side chains in various plant sterols from the cholestane-type side chain [96, 97]. A probable example of the homoterpenoid group is the juvenile hormone (I) of the giant silkworm moth, where, formally at least, two additional methyl groups would appear to have been added to the famesane skeleton. 

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