Inhibition of sex pheromone production in female lepidopteran moths by 2-halofatty acids

• Published in: Journal of lipid research Vol. 38; no. 10; pp. 1988 - 1994
• Main Authors: Hernanz, D, Fabrias, G, Camps, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 01-10-1997
• Subjects: Acetyltransferases - antagonists & inhibitors; ACIDE GRAS; ACIDOS GRASOS; Animals; Bombyx - drug effects; Bombyx - metabolism; Caprylates - pharmacology; Chlorine Compounds - pharmacology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Fatty Acid Desaturases - antagonists & inhibitors; Fatty Acid Desaturases - metabolism; FATTY ACIDS; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids - pharmacology; Female; LEPIDOPTERA; Moths - drug effects; Moths - metabolism; Myristates - pharmacology; Neuropeptides - antagonists & inhibitors; Neuropeptides - pharmacology; Palmitates - pharmacology; Sex Attractants - biosynthesis; Spodoptera - drug effects; Spodoptera - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-2275; 1539-7262
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-2275(20)37129-7

Inhibition of sex pheromone production has been observed after topical treatment of pheromonal glands with DMSO solutions of 2-bromohexadecanoic acid, in three lepidopteran insects: Spodoptera littoralis, Thaumotopoea pityocampa, and Bombyx mori. It has been shown that this effect was brought about by action on the reductases and acetyltransferases of the final steps of the pheromones biosynthesis. Other halofatty acids, such as 2-fluoro- and 2-chlorohexadecanoic acids, were less active than the above bromoderivative whereas 2-bromotetradecanoic acid and 2-bromooctanoic acid exhibited activities quite comparable to the C-16 bromoacid. These results indicate that bromosubstitution is very important for this inhibitory action and chain length is of secondary importance.