나방류의 페로몬 생합성은 식도아래 신경절에서 생산된 페로몬 생합성 촉진 신경펩타이드(pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, PBAN)의 분비로부터 시작된다. 분비된 PBAN은 페로몬샘의 상피세포막에 있는 PBAN 수용체와 결합하고, 신호전달과정을 거쳐 페 로몬 생합성과정이 활성화되어, 페로몬이 외부로 방출된다. 본 종설은 콩명나방(Maruca vitrata)의 성페로몬, PBAN과 수용체, 성페로몬 생합성 경로를 소개한다.

A cDNA of PBAN receptor (Plx-PBANR) isolated from female pheromone gland of the diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella (L.) encodes 338 amino acids. Plx-PBANR includes 7 transmembranes, indicating it belongs to G-protein coupled receptor family. Plx-PBANR showed high similarities with other moth PBANRs and its expression was only found in female pheromone gland, demonstrating that pheromone gland is the only molecular target of Plx-PBAN. To accomplish the funcional expression of Plx-PBANR, Human uterus carcinoma was stably transfected with Plx-PBANR gene and Plx-PBANR expression was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Plx-PBANR expressing cells increased level of Ca2+ influx when challenged with Plx-PBAN and Hez-PBAN from Heliothis zea, as ionomycin as a positive control does. To inhibit Plx-PBNAR expression in vivo, RNAi fragment for Plx-PBANR was injected into pupae. Suppression of PBANR expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and also induced inhibition of mating behavior in adults, revealing that reproductive organ of the female has no spermatocyte and that there are no successful reproductive behaviors. RNAi-treated adults showed reduced pheromone production. These results suggests that inhibition of PBANR expression affects the molecular biological events of PBAN and eventually suppresses mating behavior.