| Description | Unsaturated, long-chain hydrocarbons are found on the cuticles of insects and can act as pheromones. In mature Drosophila melanogaster, certain cuticular hydrocarbons are sexually dimorphic: males synthesize 23- and 25-C monoenes and females produce 27- and 29-C dienes. Each of these lipids plays specific roles in regulating male sexual behavior, with dienes stimulating courtship. 7(Z),11(Z)-Pentacosadiene is a 25-C hydrocarbon that is found in low abundance on cuticles of mature Drosophila females. Depletion of a female-specific elongase (eloF), which leads to an increase in 7(Z),11(Z)-pentacosadiene along with a parallel decrease in 7,11-nonacosadiene, significantly reduces copulation in Drosophila. This raises the possibility that 7(Z),11(Z)-pentacosadiene may act as an anti-aphrodisiac. |
| molecular weight | 348.65 |
| Molecular formula | C25H48 |
| CAS | 127599-39-7 |
| Storage | Powder: -20°C for 3 years | In solvent: -80°C for 1 year |
| Solubility | DMSO: 20 mg/mL Ethanol: 20 mg/mL DMF: 20 mg/mL |