生態学：バッタの群集行動を抑制

The key enzymes that regulate the production of a pheromone responsible for locust swarms are described this week in Nature. Several candidates capable of inhibiting the production of this pheromone are also identified. Targeting these key enzymes to inhibit pheromone production may offer an effective and sustainable strategy for locust plague control.

Frequent locust swarms threaten the environment, agriculture and economy on a global scale. Chemical insecticides are used to combat these swarms, but their use can have damaging effects on the environment, food security and human health. It is understood that the pheromone, 4-vinylanisole (4VA), has a crucial role in forming locust swarms. Manipulating this pheromone could be used as a preventative strategy against swarms, but little is known about how it is biosynthesized.

To better understand how the pheromone, 4VA, is synthesized, Le Kang and colleagues trace its molecular origins. The authors find high concentrations of 4VA in fed locusts and determine that its biosynthesis starts with the plant-derived amino acid phenylalanine, which the locusts convert into 4VA. The authors also identify two enzymes that regulate levels of the pheromone in relation to population density. A compound called 4-nitrophenol is tested as a strong candidate to inhibit the enzymes’ function, but has potential toxicity in real-world applications; however, several alternative compounds that block production of 4VA are presented.

Blocking the production of the swarm-inducing pheromone is an effective strategy for locust control. Now that the authors have described the biosynthesis of 4VA, they conclude that further candidates to suppress production should be studied.