(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae)

0508791 - ÚOCHB 2020 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Havlíčková, Jana - Dolejšová, Klára - Tichý, Michal - Vrkoslav, Vladimír - Kalinová, Blanka - Kyjaková, Pavlína - Hanus, Robert
(3R,6E)-nerolidol, a fertility-related volatile secreted by the queens of higher termites (Termitidae: Syntermitinae).
Zeitschrift fuer Naturforschung. Section C: a Journal of Biosciences. Roč. 74, 9/10 (2019), s. 251-264. ISSN 0939-5075. E-ISSN 1865-7125
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA18-21200S
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : (E)-nerolidol * fertility signalling * higher termites * social insects * Syntermitinae
OECD category: Entomology
Impact factor: 1.238, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/znc/74/9-10/article-p251.xml

The queens of advanced social insects maintain their reproductive monopoly by using exocrine chemicals. The chemistry of these 'queen pheromones' in termites is poorly known. We show that primary queens of four higher termites from the subfamily Syntermitinae (Embiratermes neotenicus, Silvestritermes heyeri, Labiotermes labralis, and Cyrilliotermes angulariceps) emit significant amounts of the sesquiterpene alcohol (E)-nerolidol. It is the dominant analyte in queen body washes, it is present on the surface of eggs, but absent in kings, workers, and soldiers. In E. neotenicus, it is also produced by replacement neotenic queens, in quantities correlated with their fertility. Using newly synthesised (3R,6E)-nerolidol, we demonstrate that the queens of this species produce only the (R) enantiomer. It is distributed over the surface of their abdomen, in internal tissues, and in the haemolymph, as well as in the headspace of the queens. Both (R) and (S) enantiomers are perceived by the antennae of E. neotenicus workers. The naturally occurring (R) enantiomer elicited a significantly larger antennal response, but it did not show any behavioural effect. In spite of technical difficulties encountered in long-term experiments with the studied species, (3R,6E)-nerolidol remains among eventual candidates for the role in queen fertility signalling.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0299605