Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide

The Pheromone Biosynthesis Activation Neuropeptide (PBAN) is a neurohormone (member of the PBAN/Pyrokinin neuropeptide family) that activates the biosynthesis of pheromones in moths. Moth females release PBAN into their hemolymph during the scotophase to stimulate the biosynthesis of the unique pheromone that will attract the conspecific males. PBAN release is drastically reduced after mating, contributing to the loss in female receptivity.^[1]

Molecular mechanism of action

The precise regulatory mechanisms exerted by PBAN on the different steps of pheromone biosynthesis remain to be determined. However, the receptor of this neuropeptide has been already cloned.^[2] The receptor belongs to the G-protein coupled receptors, and its activation leads to an increase of intracellular Calcium levels. According to the effects of gene disruption in the pheromone synthesis of Bombykol (the main pheromone component of the silk moth Bombyx mori), the increase in intracellular calcium levels turns to activate different key enzymes of the last steps of pheromone biosynthesis.^[3]

References

1. ^ Rafaeli, Ada (2009). "Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN): Regulatory role and mode of action". General and Comparative Endocrinology 162 (1): 69–78. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2008.04.004. PMID 18495120. 
2. ^ Matsumoto, Shogo; Hull, J. Joe; Ohnishi, Atsushi; Moto, Ken’ichi; Fónagy, Adrien (2007). "Molecular mechanisms underlying sex pheromone production in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori: Characterization of the molecular components involved in bombykol biosynthesis". Journal of Insect Physiology 53 (8): 752–9. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.02.014. PMID 17448494. 
3. ^ Ohnishi, Atsushi; Hull, J. Joe; Matsumoto, Shogo (2006). "Targeted disruption of genes in the Bombyx mori sex pheromone biosynthetic pathway". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (12): 4398–403. doi:10.1073/pnas.0511270103. PMC 1450183. PMID 16537410. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1450183.