Figure 1

Hydrocarbon biosynthesis in Drosophila melanogaster. The first ω7 desaturation, carried out by Desat1, is common to males and females. The ω5 desaturation, carried out by Desat2, is only expressed in D. melanogaster African females (those that have 5,9-heptacosadiene (HD)). D. simulans synthesis for both males and females follows the D. melanogaster male pathway. D. sechellia hydrocarbon biosynthesis is presumably similar to that of D. melanogaster, though this has not been shown. Adapted from Legendre et al., (2008).