Functional Group Recognition of Pheromone Molecules by Sensory Cells of Antheraea polyphemus and Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

Abstract The pheromone components of A. polyphemus, (6 E, 11 Z)-6 ,11-hexadecadienyl acetate and (6 E, 11 Z)-6 ,11-hexadecadienal, both effective also in A. pernyi, were synthetically varied in their chemical structures and these compounds electrophysiologically tested in single cell recordings. It appeared that for the interaction between the signal molecule and the receptor region at the dendritic membrane of the receptor cell the electronic character of the functional end group (acetate or aldehyde) of the stimulus molecule is important. The excitation of the sensory cell also depends on the chain length.