Skip to main content
Log in

Precise characterization of cuticular compounds in youngDrosophila by mass spectrometry

Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cuticular hydrocarbons of youngDrosophila flies are singular with very long chains and complex diene mixtures. A precise characterization of these substances was carried out by epoxidation and analysis of the products by GC-MS with negative chemical ionization. InD. melanogaster, double bonds of dienes are more probable at carbon positions 11 or 13 and 21 or 23. InD. simulans, double bonds are shifted more towards the interior of the chain. Such a difference is also found among monoenes of both species. The analyses of monoenes and dienes confirm the similarity of cuticular compounds of young flies of both sexes in both species. A main cuticular compound ofD. erecta females, 9, 23-tritriacontadiene, is also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Antony, C. 1984. Etude des communications chimiques dans le comportement sexuel deDrosophila melanogaster. Thèse de Doctorat d'Etat. Université de Paris VI.

  • Antony, C., andJallon, J.-M. 1981. Evolution des hydrocarbures comportementalement actifs deDrosophila melanogaster au cours de la maturation sexuelle.C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 252:239–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antony, C., andJallon, J.-M. 1982. The chemical basis for sex recognition inDrosophila melanogaster.J. Insect Physiol. 28:873–880.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antony, C., Davis, T.L., Carlson, D.A., Pechiné, J.-M., andJallon, J.-M. 1985. Compared behavioral responses of maleDrosophila melanogaster (Canton S) to natural and synthetic aphrodisiacs.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:1617–1629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aplin, R.T., andColes, L. 1967. A simple procedure for localization of ethylenic bond by mass spectrometry.Chem. Commun. 858–859.

  • Baker, G.L., Vroman, H.E., andPadmore, J. 1963. Hydrocarbons of the American Cockroach.J. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 13:360–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G.J., Howard, R.W., McDaniel, C.A., Remaley, S., Dwyer, L.A., andNelson, D.R. 1980. Application of methoxymercuration-demercuration followed by mass-spectrometry as a convenient microanalytical technique for double bond location in insect derived alkenes.J. Chem. Ecol. 6:257–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G.J., Toolson, E.C., andNelson, D.R. 1985. Epicuticular hydrocarbons ofDrosophila pseudoobscura. Identification of unusual alkadiene and alkatriene positional isomers.Insect Biochem. 15:25–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouchoux, G.,Hoppiliard, Y.,Jaudon, P., andPechiné, J.-M. 1987. Dosage des mélanges d'époxides aliphatiques à l'aide des spectres de masse CI, OH.Spectrosc. Int. J. In press.

  • Budzikiewics, H., andBusker, E. 1980. Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry III CI spectra of olefins.Tetrahedron 36:255–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capella, P. andZorzut, C.M. 1968. Determination of double bond position in monounsaturated fatty acid esters by mass spectrometry of their trimethylsilyloxy derivatives.Anal. Chem. 40:1458–1462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, R., andCook, A. 1975. The attractiveness to males of femaleDrosophila melanogaster: Effects of mating, age and diet.Anim. Behav. 23:521–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doolittle, R.E., Tumlinson, J.H., andProveaux, A. 1985. Determination of double bond position in conjugated dienes by chemical ionization mass spectrometry with isobutane.Anal. Chem. 57:1625–1630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunkelblum, E., Tan, S.H., andSilk, P.J. 1985. Double-bond location in monounsaturated fatty acids by dimethyl disulfide derivatization and mass spectrometry.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:265–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Einhorn, J., Vierlizier, H., Gemal, A.L. andTabet, J.C. 1985. Direct determination of double bond position in long chain conjugated dienes byt-C4H +9 chemical ionization mass spectrometry.Tetrahedron Lett. 26:1445–1448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, L.L., andBartelt, R.J. 1986. Cuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila virilis. Comparison by age and sex.Insect Biochem. 16:433–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jallon, J.-M. 1984. A few chemical words exchanged byDrosophila during courtship.Behav. Genet. 14:441–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jallon, J.-M., andDavid, J. 1987. Variations in cuticular hydrocarbons among the 8 species of theDrosophila melanogaster subgroup.Evolution 41:294–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jallon, J.-M., andHotta, Y. 1979. Genetic and behavioral studies of female sex-appeal inDrosophila.Behav. Genet. 8:487–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pechiné, J.-M., Perez, F., Antony, C., andJallon, J.-M. 1985. A further characterization ofDrosophila cuticular monoenes using a mass spectrometry method to localize double bonds in complex mixtures.Anal. Biochem. 145:177–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, M., Ariga, T., Sekine, M., Araki, E., andMiyatake, T. 1981. Identification of double bond positions in polyunsaturated fatty acids by chemical ionization mass spectrometry.Anal. Chem. 53:985–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tompkins, L., Hall, J.C., andHall, L. 1980. Courtship stimulating volatile compounds from normal and mutantDrosophila.J. Insect. Physiol. 26:689–697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tumlinson, J.H., Heath, R.R., andDoolittle, R.E. 1974. Application of chemical ionization mass spectrometry of epoxides to the determination of olefin position in aliphatic chains.Anal. Chem. 46:1309–1312.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pechine, J.M., Antony, C. & Jallon, J.M. Precise characterization of cuticular compounds in youngDrosophila by mass spectrometry. J Chem Ecol 14, 1071–1085 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019336

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019336

Key words

Navigation