Pheromone biosynthesis and role of functional groups in pheromone specificity.

The sex attractants for many Lepidoptera are long-chain, monounsaturated acetate esters, alcohols, and aldehydes. In vivo metabolic studies and enzyme analysis in vitro have provided evidence that the aldehyde pheromone of the eastern spruce budworm is synthesized de novo via an acetate ester precursor. Interconversion of the functional groups (ester, alcohol, aldehyde) can explain differences in the pheromone blends used by closely related species.