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Free keywords:
lepidoptera
noctuidae
agrotis-segetum
(z)-5-decenyl acetate
pheromone analog
methyl substitution
structure activity
single-sensillum recordings
receptor interaction
conformational
analysis
molecular mechanics
sex-pheromone
molecular mechanics
analogs
lepidoptera
derivatives
attractants
reactivity
receptor
cell
Abstract:
Methyl-substituted analogs of (Z)-5-decenyl acetate, a phermone component of the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum, have been synthesized and studied by electrophysiological single-sensillum recordings and molecular mechanics calculations [MM2(85)]. The analogs are monomethyl substituted in the 2, 3, 4, and 5 positions and geminally dimethyl substituted in the 2, 3, and 4 positions. The methyl groups have been employed as space probes to study the degree of steric complementarity between the acetate-substituted alkyl chain of the pheromone component and its receptor. The electrophysiological activities, interpreted in terms of a receptor interaction model, indicate significant steric repulsive interactions between the introduced methyl groups and the receptor. This implies a high degree of complementarity between the acetate-substituted alkyl chain of the natural pheromone component and its receptor.