GC-MS used to investigate cuticular hydrocarbons

Scientists have used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in a study to investigate the diversification of cuticular hydrocarbons in a clade of cactophilic Drosophila.

In the research, which was published in the BMC Evolutionary Biology journal, the team aimed to characterise the variation and chemical composition of epicuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in the seven species of the Drosophila buzzatii cluster by using GC-MS.

The motivation behind the study was that, despite the crucial role of CHCs in major communication, including courtship, mating and aggression, little is known about how CHC profiles evolve.

Using quantitative analysis of the results, the scientists determined that while CHC were similar in a species, most CHC profiles were species-, population- and gender-specific.

By mapping CHC profiles onto an independently derived phylogeny, the scientists revealed that a significant portion of CHC variation was explained by species' regular affinities demonstrating phylogenetic conservatism in the evolution of these hydrocarbon arrays.