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Project information
Biosynthesis of components of marking pheromones of the bumblebee males: A study of enzymatically controlled esterification and desaturation processes

Information

This project doesn't include Faculty of Education. It includes Faculty of Science. Official project website can be found on muni.cz.
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Project Identification
GA203/02/0158
Project Period
1/2002 - 12/2004
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
Czech Science Foundation
  • Standard Projects
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Science
  • doc. RNDr. Vladimír Ptáček, CSc.
Cooperating Organization
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the ASCR, v. v. i.
  • Responsible person RNDr. Irena Valterová, CSc.

The grant proposal is a continuation of the project "Chemical signals of bumblebees: Identification of components, their biological activity and biosynthesis" that was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic during 1998-2000. We propose to study biosynthetic pathways leading to the formation of components of the males' marking pheromones in bumblebees. This pheromone is secreted by the cephalic part of the males' labial gland. We will focus on the components that are close to the metabolis of fatty acids and their esters. Deuterated precursors - fatty acids with different chain length - will be applied and their metabolism in the bumblebee's body will be followed using GC-MS techniques. Our preliminary results indicate that labelled precursors are incorporated into the males' fat body where they are stored and later used for the biosynthesis of pheromone. Preferences or selectivity in the incorporation of labelled precursors will be followed with regard to their chain length and structure.

Publications

Total number of publications: 4

2003

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