Biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid skeleton of juvenile hormone 3 by Dysdercus fasciatus corpora allata in vitro

In an effort to determine the nature of the juvenile hormone of a hemipteran insect, we have analyzed the in vitro biosynthetic products of cultured corpora aleata using thin layer chromatography and normal and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. We now report that the corpora aleata of Dysdercus fasciatus (Hemiptera: Pyrrochoridae) synthesize in vitro methyl 3,7,11‐trimethyl‐2E, 6E, 10‐dodecatrienoate, the methyl ester precursor of juvenile hormone 3.