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Sex pheromone conversion and degradation in antennae of the silkworm mothBombyx mori L.

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Summary

In living antennae of the silkworm mothBombyx mori L. the pheromone compound (E, Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol and hexadecanol are enzymatically converted to their corresponding fatty aldehydes, acids and long-chain fatty acid esters. The pheromone is completely degraded at high rates in the antennae of freshly hatched moths. The polar volatile [3H]metabolites exclusively consist of tritiated water. The half-life of the pheromone is about 2.5 min in males and 0.5 min in females. Drying inactivates the enzymes responsible for pheromone oxidation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8131, Seewiesen, Federal Republic of Germany

    G. Kasang, M. Nicholls & L. von Proff

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, D-8033, Martinsried

    G. Kasang

Authors
  1. G. Kasang
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  2. M. Nicholls
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  3. L. von Proff
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Dedicated to Professor Adolf Butenandt on the occasion of his 85th birthday

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Kasang, G., Nicholls, M. & von Proff, L. Sex pheromone conversion and degradation in antennae of the silkworm mothBombyx mori L.. Experientia 45, 81–87 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01990456

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01990456

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