Pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide hormone

Pheromone Biosynthesis-Activating Neuropeptide Hormone of Heliothis zea... 

We recently reported the primary sequence of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide hormone (Hez-PBAN) that controls sex pheromone production in adult female moths of the corn earworm. Heliothis zea (1), Hez-PBAN is a 33 residue C-terminally amidated peptide with a molecular weight of 3900 daltons. This paper describes the details of the isolation and characterization of this first member of a new family of insect neuropeptides. 

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. 

Another technique that is utilized to help ensure that label is incorporated into the pheromone is to apply the precursor at the same time as pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). PBAN is a peptide hormone that regulates pheromone biosynthesis in most, but not all, moths. So, first it must be demonstrated that PBAN regulates pheromone production. In the case of the cabbage looper,... 

Ichikawa T., Hasegawa K., Shimizu I., Katsuno K., Kataoka H. and Suzuki A. (1995) Structure of neurosecretory cells with immunoreactive diapause hormone and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Zool. Sci. 12, 703-712. 

Sato Y., Ikeda M., Yamashita O. (1994) Neurosecretory cells expressing the gene for common precursor for diapause hormone and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide in the subesophageal ganglion of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Gen. Comp. Endocrin. 96, 27-36. 

Zhang T., Zhang L., Xu W. and Shen J. (2001) Cloning and characterization of the cDNA of diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide of Helicoverpa armigera. GenBank Direct Submission. 

Picimbon J. F. (1998) Sex pheromone of the French black cutworm moth, Agrotis ipsilon, identification and regulation by the Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PB AN) and juvenile Hormone (JH). Misc. Publ. Natl. Inst. Seric. Entomol. Sci. 23, 104-105. 

Bioassays commonly provide the initial means of detecting neuropeptide activity. The factor(s) responsible for this activity are assigned names reflecting the functions detected with the bioassay (e.g., adipoianetic hormone, AKH diuretic hormone, DH eclosion hormone, EH pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, PBAN prothoracicotropic hormone, PTTH and so forth). As more of these factors are discovered and characterized, not only are biologic ... 

We used the Bombyx adult heads as a source of PTTH (5) along with bombyxins (formerly 4K-PTTH, insulin-related peptides possessing PTTH activity in the brainless pupae of Sarnia cynthia ricini) (6), eclosion hormone (7), melanization and reddish coloration hormone (8) and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (9). All these peptide hormones have been isolated and characterized. 

Pheromone production in females of many species of moths is controlled by a hormone, the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). PBAN was isolated from Helicoverpa Heliothls ) zea and identified as a 33 amino acid peptide. Amidation of the C-terminus is important for the biological activity of this hormone. Oxidation of two Met residues at postitions 5 and 14 enhanced pheromonotropic activity of PBAN. Stability of PBAN in saline can be increased by the substitution of Nle for Met at positions 5 and 14. Biological activity is mostly associated with brain-suboesophageal ganglion and corpora cardiaca of both female and male moths. Terminal abdominal ganglion does not appear to be directly involved in the control of pheromone production. PBAN is slowly degraded in hemolymph. Future possibilities of research on PBAN are discussed. 

The three hormones that regulate pheromone production in insects are juvenile hormone 111 (JH), 20-hydroxyecdysone and PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide). 

In a few Lepidoptera, like the silkworm moth Bombyx mori), hehothide species as the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and the cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) it has been demonstrated that a neuronal hormone (PBAN, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide) is synthesised by a cephalic organ in their brain, dependent on the day/night rhythm. This mediator controls the sex pheromone production in these moths. [161, 170]... 

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