New Approach to the Measurement of Pheromone Levels Using a Combined Flow Injection Analysis/Bioluminescence Detection System

Stephen N. Brune, Jacob R. Phillips, and Donald R. Bobbitt


 
ABSTRACT

The combined techniques of flow injection analysis and bioluminescence detection is shown to provide extremely selective and sensitive detection of insect pheromones which possess an aldehyde moiety. The flow injection analysis system allows reproducible control of both the reaction chemistry and the sample introduction process. Samples on the order of a microliter can be precisely manipulated and analyzed with this experimental configuration. The detection system is based on the luciferase catalyzed oxidation of reduced flavin mononucleotide which occurs in the presence of aldehydes with carbon backbones of between 14 and 16 carbons. The limit of detection for the technique is 3 fmol of tetradecyl aldehyde and the system is shown to be insensitive to the presence of various organic solvents up to concentrations of approximately 10%. The key experimental variables which control sensitive detection of pheromone at the femtomole level have been investigated and will be discussed.



Reprinted from 1992 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 839 - 841
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998