Evidence for differential biosynthesis of juvenile hormone (and related) sesquiterpenoids in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Previous studies in Drosophila melanogaster have demonstrated that biosynthesis and regulation of juvenile hormone bisepoxide (JHB 3) may not be coordinated with that of juvenile hormone (JH III). In this study, we have used the radiochemical assay to confirm the coordinated developmental sesquiterpenoid profile during adult life and analyze the effect of farnesol and farnesoic acid addition on methyl farnesoate, JH III and JHB 3 production by isolated ring glands of Drosophila third instar larvae or corpora allata of adult females. Application of exogenous farnesol or farnesoic acid to glands in vitro stimulated MF and JH III biosynthesis in both larvae and adults. Farnesol and farnesoic acid were inhibitory to JHB 3 biosynthesis in larvae. N-acetyl-geranyl- l-cysteine (NAGC) and S-farnesyl-thioacetic acid (SFTA) are farnesyl pyrophosphatase inhibitors that have specificity towards two different ring gland phosphatases. NAGC and SFTA had no effect on MF or JH III biosynthesis, whereas SFTA inhibited JHB 3 biosynthesis. SFTA shows specificity for a ring gland phosphatase, Phos2680, which has not been previously implicated as a contributor to JHB 3 biosynthesis. This finding suggests that farnesol production occurs in two alternate pools; one pool utilized for MF and JH III production and the other for JHB 3 production. Finally, we have used the UAS–GAL4 system in Drosophila to express juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) in vivo. In contrast to in vitro studies, JHAMT expression had no effect on MF or JH III biosynthesis but stimulated JHB 3 in both larvae and adults.