2023, Vol. 5, Issue 11, Part A

Author(s): V Vasanth, E Arasakumar, S Ranjith Kumar, Gajjala Nitish, Nandha Kumar R, Moulidharshan R, Nilav Ranjan Bora and Diphankar Brahma

Abstract: Chemicals play an important role in communication and also essential for survival of insects, which enable them to appraise immediate environment through modification of their behavior. Infochemicals are organic compounds used by insects to convey specific chemical messages that modify behavior or physiology. Bombykol the pheromone used by the female silkworm moth to attract a male for mate was first identified and synthesized by Adolf Butenant. Sex pheromone signals are received by receptors present in male antennae. These signals are transmitted first to the olfactory processing center, the antennal lobe and then are processed further in the higher centers of lateral protocerebrum and mushroom body to elicit orientation behavior towards females. Bombykol is synthesized de novo within pheromone gland cell from acetyl-CoA via conventional long chain fatty acid synthesis. After adult emergence the stored fatty acid is cleaved and converted to bombykol in response to pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide. The pheromone binding proteins are small, soluble proteins that are synthesized by accessory cells of trichogen or tormogen into the sensillum lymph by their ability to bind to pheromone compound and showed a predominant expression pattern in male antennae of silkmoth. Artificial application of serotonin to the male silkworm modified the neuronal response at antennal lobe in the behavior level as a modulation of pheromone sensitivity. Thus this pheromone is responsible for male attraction through the specific receptors. The identified female silkmoth pheromone sensed in olfactory studies towards male moth.

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