Drosophila athabasca, native to North America, currently exists in three behavioral races: WestNorthern, Eastern A, and Eastern B, which remain highly selective toward mates of the same race, making them an excellent model for speciation resulting from sexual discrimination. In other insects, it has been observed that this sexual selection process may be mediated by various long-chain saturated, unsaturated, and branched hydrocarbons, found on the cuticle, acting as biochemical mating signals, or pheromones. We are exploring the role that these cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) may play in sexual discrimination of the D. athabasca system. Through the use of GC-MS analysis, characterization of CHCs from several isofemale lines of D. athabasca has been accomplished. Positions of unsaturation within CHCs were determined using dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) derivatization. Synthesis of major monounsaturated CHCs was accomplished through alkylation of a terminal alkyne, followed by selective reduction to the cis-isomer. Diene CHCs were synthesized by coupled substitution reactions of deprotonated acetylenes followed by cis-selective reduction. A clear accounting of CHCs and a profiles may help us to better determine their function.

Cuticular hydrocarbon analysis of Drosophila athabasca: Identification, quantification, and synthesis

251st National Meeting (2016)

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