Pheromones binding and release

Horst R., Damberger F., Fuginbuhl P., Guntert P., Peng G., Nikonova L., Leal W. S. and Wuthrich K (2001) NMR structure reveals intramolecular regulation mechanism for pheromone binding and release. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 98, 14374—14379. 

Mechanism of pheromone binding and release 15.3.1 The pheromone-PBP complex... 

Horst. R. Damberger. F. Luginbuhl, P. Guntert. P. Peng. G. Nikonova. L. Leal. W.S. NMR stmeture reveals intamolecular regulation mechanism for pheromone binding and release. Proe. Natl. Aead. Sei. 2001, 98 (25). 14374-14379. 

Figure 5. Proposed mechanism for pheromone binding and release.

Recent structural biology and biochemical studies widi the pheromone binding protein fixim the silkworm moth, B. mori (BmorPBP), have revealed the mechanism of binding and release of pheromones by PBP (9-13). Pheromonebinding proteins engulf pheromones in a hydrophobic cavity inside dieir structures (10) (Figure 3). 

In this chapter, you will be asked to design a synthesis for bombykol, the sex pheromone of the silk moth (bombyx mori) see page 191. Molecules of bombykol diffuse through open pores in the male moth s antenna. When bombykol binds to its receptor, an electrical charge is produced that causes a nerve impulse to be sent to the brain. Bombykol, however, is a nonpolar molecule (page 555) and has to cross an aqueous solution to get to its receptor. This problem is solved by the pheromone binding protein. The protein binds bombykol in a hydrophobic pocket and then carries it to the receptor. The area around the receptor is relatively acidic, and the decrease in pH causes the pheromone binding protein to unfold and release bombykol to the receptor. 

This discussion deals largely with the chemorecognition of a stimulus molecule (i. e., a releaser pheromone) by a receptor site. It also deals with how enantiomers may be distinguished. The interactive forces between a releaser pheromone molecule and a receptor site, or their binding, are considered to play a major role in chemorecognition. 

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