Novel family of terpene synthases evolved from
<i>trans</i>
-isoprenyl diphosphate synthases in a flea beetle
作者:Franziska Beran、Peter Rahfeld、Katrin Luck、Raimund Nagel、Heiko Vogel、Natalie Wielsch、Sandra Irmisch、Srinivasan Ramasamy、Jonathan Gershenzon、David G. Heckel、Tobias G. Köllner
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1523468113
日期:2016.3.15
Significance
Whether insect sesquiterpenes are synthesized de novo, derived from plant precursors, or produced by symbionts is often unknown. We identified an evolutionarily novel terpene synthase gene family in the striped flea beetle, a notorious pest of
Brassica
crops in North America and Asia, and one of these genes was shown to be directly involved in the biosynthesis of the male-specific sesquiterpene aggregation pheromone. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses indicate that an expansion of the
trans
-isoprenyl diphosphate synthase gene family in the ancestor of the subfamily Galerucinae enabled functional diversification toward this terpene synthase gene family. These insights into how flea beetles synthesize their aggregation pheromones may lead to new approaches for pest management.
Male-Specific Sesquiterpenes from <i>Phyllotreta</i> Flea Beetles
作者:Robert J. Bartelt、Bruce W. Zilkowski、Allard A. Cossé、Udo Schnupf、Karl Vermillion、Frank A. Momany
DOI:10.1021/np100608p
日期:2011.4.25
Flea beetles in several genera are known to possess male-specific sesquiterpenes, at least some of Which serve as aggregation, pheromones that attract both sexes. In continuing, research on the Chemical ecology of Phyllotreta flea beetles, six new male specific sesquiterpenes were identified, one from P. striolata (hydroxyketone 9) and five from P. pusilla (aldehydes 10-12 and 14 and alcohol 13),, both species are crop pests. The minute amounts from beetles provided mass. spectra, and chromatographic data but were insufficient for complete structure determination. However, it was discovered that the new compounds could all be produced by applying organic reactions to previously identified flea, beetle sesquiterpenes, and the resulting, larger amounts of material permitted, definitive. structure analysis by NMR. Molecular Modeling was used in conjunction with NMR to define relative configurations of several newly created stereogenic centers. The absolute configurations of natural 9-14 were established by chiral gas chromatography/. mass spectrometry. In electrophysiologicial tests (GC-EAD) conducted with P. striolata compound 9, was detected with high, sensitivity by) the beetle;antennae, which is consistent with a pheromonal function.,The research opens new possibilities. for using behavioral Chemicals to monitor or Manage these pest species.