The pheromone biosynthesis activation neuropeptide (PBAN) is a

neurohormone A neurohormone is any hormone produced and released by neuroendocrine cells (also called neurosecretory cells) into the blood. By definition of being hormones, they are secreted into the circulation for systemic effect, but they can also have a ro ...

(member of the PBAN/pyrokinin

neuropeptide Neuropeptides are chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids that are synthesized and released by neurons. Neuropeptides typically bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neural activity and other tissues like the ...

family) that activates the biosynthesis of

pheromone A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...

s in moths. Female moths 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. In black cutworm (''Agrotis ipsilon''), it has been shown that the

juvenile hormone Juvenile hormones (JHs) are a group of acyclic sesquiterpenoids that regulate many aspects of insect physiology. The first discovery of a JH was by Vincent Wigglesworth. JHs regulate development, reproduction, diapause, and polyphenisms. In ...

helps induce release of PBAN which goes on to influence pheromone production and responsiveness in females and males, respectively. In the oriental tobacco budworm (''Helicoverpa assulta''), the circadian rhythm of pheromone production is closely associated with PBAN release.

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. 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 Bombykol is a pheromone released by the female silkworm moth to attract mates. It is also the sex pheromone in the wild silk moth ('' Bombyx mandarina''). Discovered by Adolf Butenandt in 1959, it was the first pheromone to be characterized chemi ...

, the main pheromone component of the silk moth (''Bombyx mori'') and the corn earworm moth (''Helicoverpa zea''), the increase in intracellular calcium levels turns to activate different key enzymes of the last steps of pheromone biosynthesis.

References

{{reflist Pheromones Neuropeptides Insect hormones