Ding Bao-Jian, Hofvander Per, Wang Hong-Lei, Durrett Timothy P, Stymne Sten, Löfstedt Christer
Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden.
Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden.
Nat Commun. 2014 Feb 25;5:3353. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4353.
Moths depend on pheromone communication for mate finding and synthetic pheromones are used for monitoring or disruption of pheromone communication in pest insects. Here we produce moth sex pheromone, using Nicotiana benthamiana as a plant factory, by transient expression of up to four genes coding for consecutive biosynthetic steps. We specifically produce multicomponent sex pheromones for two species. The fatty alcohol fractions from the genetically modified plants are acetylated to mimic the respective sex pheromones of the small ermine moths Yponomeuta evonymella and Y. padella. These mixtures are very efficient and specific for trapping of male moths, matching the activity of conventionally produced pheromones. Our long-term vision is to design tailor-made production of any moth pheromone component in genetically modified plants. Such semisynthetic preparation of sex pheromones is a novel and cost-effective way of producing moderate to large quantities of pheromones with high purity and a minimum of hazardous waste.
蛾类依靠信息素交流来寻找配偶，合成信息素则用于监测害虫或干扰害虫的信息素交流。在此，我们利用本氏烟草作为植物工厂，通过瞬时表达多达四个编码连续生物合成步骤的基因，来生产蛾类性信息素。我们专门为两个物种生产了多组分性信息素。对转基因植物中的脂肪醇组分进行乙酰化处理，以模拟小巢蛾和苹果小巢蛾各自的性信息素。这些混合物对诱捕雄蛾非常有效且具有特异性，与传统生产的信息素活性相当。我们的长期愿景是设计在转基因植物中定制生产任何蛾类信息素成分的方法。这种性信息素的半合成制备方法是一种新颖且经济高效的方式，能够以高纯度生产中等到大量的信息素，同时产生最少的有害废物。
