保幼激素合成的研究进展

保幼激素 (juvenile hormone,JH) 是通过甲羟戊酸途径合成的一类倍半萜化合物。以昆虫中普遍存在的JH Ⅲ为例,从分子水平上概述了JH合成途径中的各种酶,并对其中的两个关键酶：羟甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶和保幼激素酸甲基转移酶作了详细介绍。还从家蚕基因组数据库(http://silkworm.genomics.org.cn)中推测出了JH合成途径中大部分酶的编码基因,初探了JH合成的调节机制,讨论了JH合成的研究趋势。     

细菌中倍半萜生物合成的研究进展

萜类化合物是一大类小分子天然产物,在生物体内扮演重要的角色。植物和真菌中萜类化合物的生物合成已被广泛研究,但是在真核生物中克隆或改造萜类化合物生物合成途径还有较大难度。许多细菌同样可以产生萜类化合物。在过去十多年间细菌萜类合酶的研究进展为我们对萜类化合物生物合成的理解做出了显著的贡献。这里我们主要关注细菌中合成的倍半萜化合物,概述其化学结构、倍半萜合酶对法尼基焦磷酸环化的机制、后修饰酶特别是氧化还原酶所参与的后修饰、代谢调控以及合成途径中尚未解决的问题等。     

昆虫保幼激素生物合成的调节与测定

<正> 保幼激素(JH)是由昆虫的咽侧体(CA)产生。它调节着发育和生殖。从昆虫中已分离出3种具有JH活性的化合物,分别称为JH1、JH2、JH3。它们的生理活性大不相同。JH3是大部分成虫的主要激素,可促进卵巢的发育,所以是一种促性腺激素。JH1和JH2主要在鳞翅目幼虫和蜚蠊若虫内,它们在变态开始就参与这一过程的调节作用,称为变态激素。     

保幼激素在昆虫中的分子作用机理

随着分子生物学技术的快速发展,对生态环境中各类生物的研究,包括对生物某些特定基因结构和功能的研究等逐步拓展和加深。保幼激素(Juvenile Hormone,JH)是由咽侧体(Corpus Allatum,CA)分泌的,在昆虫发育、变态和生殖过程中起重要作用的激素。目前对JH信号传导途径的作用机理还不十分清楚。现有研究表明,Kruppel homolog-1(Kr-h1)是一种含C2H2锌指结构的转录因子,处于保幼激素信号途径下游,在保幼激素信号通路中起着重要作用。已报道的Kr-h1基因的功能主要包括:调控幼虫生长发育和变态,与蜜蜂的觅食行为密切相关,参与果蝇幼体神经细胞的形成等等。对就近十年来Kr-h1基因的特性和功能研究作一个综述以了解不同昆虫中保幼激素的分子作用机制,为开发生物农药奠定理论基础,也为维护良好的生态环境作出理论贡献。     

半翅目昆虫卵黄原蛋白及其合成调控的研究进展

昆虫卵黄原蛋白（Vitellogenins, Vg）是一种多功能的生殖发育关键调控蛋白，在不同昆虫体内的结构、合成调控及功能不尽相同。随着基因编辑技术的成熟，运用分子手段调控Vg的合成，可减少卵黄发生，降低昆虫的繁殖力，成为有效防治害虫的优势方法之一。因此，Vg及其合成调控的研究受到广泛关注。半翅目害虫是农林业的重点防治对象之一，除直接刺吸为害寄主外，其常传播植物病原体，对农业生产造成了严重危害。半翅目昆虫Vg除在生殖发育中的关键作用外，还与病原菌的传播、寄主免疫等密切相关，可成为分子水平防治半翅目害虫及其继发病害的优势靶标。因此，本文总结了半翅目昆虫Vg的合成方式、合成场所，指明了其结构上蛋白亚基数目的差异，概述了其与昆虫免疫反应、植物防御、病毒传播等有关的研究进展，总结了其合成的保幼激素（包括保幼激素受体Methoprene-tolerant和转录因子Krüppel homolog 1等关键调控因子等）、蜕皮激素和胰岛素信号通路等主要的内分泌激素调控通路，以及以营养信号调控为主的非激素调控通路，为探索半翅目害虫的分子防控手段提供理论依据。     

保幼激素及其代谢产物的HPLC分离方法的改进和应用

传统的正相高效液相色谱（normal phase high performance liquid chromatography, NP-HPLC）可以较好地分离保幼激素（juvenile hormone, JH）Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ,但不能分离保幼激素的代谢产物及其类似物。经过改进的反相高效液相色谱（reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, RP-HPLC）不仅可以很好地分离保幼激素,还能定性定量分析保幼激素的代谢产物及其类似物。离体培养昆虫咽侧体（corpora allata, CA）所合成的、被同位素标记的痕量保幼激素可以用以上两种色谱方法进行分离和鉴定。此外,RP-HPLC还可以用来分离体内或体外同位素标记的保幼激素代谢产物,以及测量血淋巴中的保幼激素滴度。     

本期重点推介

正保幼激素(JH)是由昆虫咽侧体中合成的一种倍半萜类化合物,是昆虫发育变态的重要调节因子。大猿叶虫Colaphellus bowringi是一种可被长光照诱导进入生殖滞育的十字花科蔬菜害虫。为了探究促咽侧体素(AT)和抑咽侧体素(AST)基因在大猿叶虫生殖滞育准备中的作用,华中农业大学植物科学技术学院田忠和王小平等在克隆鉴定大猿叶虫CbAT,CbAST-B和CbAST-C基因的基础上,利用qRT-PCR检测这3个基因在大猿叶虫注定滞育和注定非滞育雌蛹和雌成虫头部的表达模式,并在通过RNAi分别干扰大猿叶虫注定滞育2日龄雌蛹体内CbAST-B,CbAST-C以及CbAST-B+CbAST-C基因后检测4日龄雌成虫JH信号基因以及卵黄原蛋白基因的表达量变化,结果进一步揭示了昆虫生殖滞育准备期JH信号的上游调控机制(pp. 30-40)。     

保幼激素调控昆虫生殖滞育的研究进展

滞育是昆虫响应不良环境信号后的一种发育停滞的状态,是昆虫的一种季节性适应策略。生殖滞育是发生在成虫期的一种生殖系统发育停滞的滞育类型。目前普遍认为,昆虫的生殖滞育受到体内多种激素的共同调控,而其最直接的原因是保幼激素的缺乏,但其具体调控机制尚不明确。本文主要从保幼激素调控昆虫生殖滞育的下游网络及生殖滞育昆虫中调控保幼激素的上游信号两方面进行综述,以期为探明保幼激素调控昆虫生殖滞育的作用机制提供参考。     

植物类萜生物合成途径及关键酶的研究进展

萜类化合物是植物中广泛存在的一类代谢产物,在植物的生长、发育过程中起着重要的作用。植物中的萜类化合物有两条合成途径:甲羟戊酸途径和5-磷酸脱氧木酮糖/2C-甲基4-磷酸-4D-赤藓糖醇途径。这两条途径中都存在一系列调控萜类化合物生成、结构和功能各异的酶,其中关键酶的作用决定了下游萜类化合物的产量。植物类萜生物合成途径的调控以及该途径中关键酶的研究已成为目前国内外生物学领域的一大热点。综述了植物类萜生物合成途径和参与该途径的关键酶及其基因工程的研究进展,并展望了其应用前景。     

Biosynthetic pathway of insect juvenile hormone III in cell suspension cultures of the sedge Cyperus iria

In most insect species, juvenile hormones regulate critical physiological processes such as metamorphosis and reproduction. In insects, these sesquiterpenoids are synthesized by retrocerebral endocrine organs, the corpora allata, via the classical mevalonate (MVA) pathway. One of these compounds, juvenile hormone III (JH III), has also been identified in the sedge Cyperus iria. In higher plants, biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid backbone may proceed through two distinct pathways: the MVA pathway or the 2C-methyl erythritol 4-phosphate pathway or through a combination of both pathways. Cell suspension cultures of C. iria were used to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of JH III in the plant. Enzyme inhibition and labeling studies conclusively demonstrated that the biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid backbone of JH III proceeds via the MVA pathway. Inhibitor and precursor feeding studies also suggest that later steps of JH III biosynthesis in C. iria are similar to the insect pathway and that the final enzymatic reaction in JH III biosynthesis is catalyzed by a cytochrome P(450) monooxygenase.     

Production of insect juvenile hormone III and its precursors in cell suspension cultures of the sedge, Cyperus iria L.

 Juvenile hormones (JHs) are sesquiterpenoids that regulate metamorphosis and reproduction in most insect species. There has been one report of an insect JH in plants: JH III, methyl-10R,11-epoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl 2E, 6E-dodecadienoate, has been identified in two sedge species, Cyperus iria L. and C. aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf and Kük. This is the first report of callus and cell suspension cultures derived from C. iria. Farnesol and methyl farnesoate, two biosynthetic intermediates of JH III in insects, as well as JH III have been identified in suspension culture cell extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. These cultures thus provide a useful in vitro model to investigate the biosynthesis of JH III in the sedge, C. iria. Received: 30 October 1998 / Revision received: 11 February 1999 / Accepted: 3 March 1999     

Regulation of female reproduction in mites: A unifying model for the Acari

It is well established in the literature that circulating high levels of juvenile hormone (JH) are responsible for the initiation of vitellogenesis and female reproduction in most insects studied so far. Exceptions include some Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The current view is that JH also regulates yolk protein (vitellogenin, Vg) synthesis and female reproduction in mites. However, there is no published evidence that mites have the common insect JHs at any stage of their development. Also, research on the effects of exogenous applications of JH and JH analogs on the reproduction of mites is contradictory. Significant information is available on the life history of mite reproduction, and new information has become available on mite storage proteins including Vg. Although initial studies suggested that ticks may respond to exogenously applied juvenile hormone or anti-JHs, current research shows that ticks cannot synthesize the common insect JHs and have no detectable levels of these hormones in their hemolymph during female reproduction. In ticks, it appears that ecdysteroids, and not JH, regulate expression of the Vg gene and the synthesis and release of Vg protein into the hemolymph. In fact within the Arthropoda, JH has been found only in insects. Methyl farnesoate and not JH regulates Vg synthesis in the Crustacea, the sister group to the insects. Based on this evidence, a new working hypothesis is proposed, i.e., that ecdysteroids and not the JHs regulate vitellogenesis in the Acari including both ticks and mites. To the present, the role of neuropeptides in the regulation of female reproduction in mites is not known.     

蜡酯合成途径及关键酶的研究进展

蜡酯对于生物的生命活动具有重要意义,研究表明植物和动物的蜡酯合成存在保守途径。即脂酰辅酶A（fatty acyl-CoA）在脂酰辅酶A还原酶（fatty acyl-CoAreductase,FAR）的作用下还原成脂肪醇,脂肪醇和脂酰辅酶A在蜡酯合酶（wax synthase,WS）的作用下生成酯,FAR和WS是该途径的关键酶,这两个酶的结构和功能在不同物种之间表现出很大差异,目前对于这两个酶缺乏系统的归纳分析。该文综述了蜡酯合成途径及FAR和WS的序列特征、生化特性及参与的生理功能,分析了这两种酶相关研究存在的问题,旨在为昆虫的蜡酯合成研究提供参考。     

JH biosynthesis by reproductive tissues and corpora allata in adult longhorned beetles, Apriona germari

We report on juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis from long‐chain intermediates by specific reproductive tissues and the corpora allata (CA) prepared from adult longhorned beetles, Apriona germari. The testes, male accessory glands (MAGs), ovaries, and CA contained the long‐chain intermediates in the JH biosynthetic pathway, farnesoic acid (FA), methyl farnesoate (MF), and JH III. The testes and ovaries, but not CA, produced radioactive JH III after the addition of ³H‐methionine and, separately, unlabeled methionine, to the incubation medium. We inferred that endogenous FA is methylated to MF in the testes and ovaries. Addition of farnesol led to increased amounts of FA in the testes, MAGs, ovaries, and CA, indicating oxidation of farnesol to FA. Addition of FA to incubation medium yielded increased JH III, again indicating methylation of FA to MF in the testes, MAGs, ovaries, but not CA. Addition of MF to incubation medium also led to JH III, from which we inferred the epoxidation of MF to JH III. JH biosynthesis from farnesol in the testes, MAGs, and ovaries of A. germari proceeds via oxidation to FA, methylation to MF, and epoxidation to JH III. This is a well‐known pathway to JH III, described here for the first time in reproductive tissues of longhorned beetles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A putative farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase (FAMeT) orthologue in Drosophila melanogaster (CG10527): relationship to juvenile hormone biosynthesis?

Juvenile hormones (JHs) are key regulators of both metamorphosis and adult reproductive processes. Farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase (FAMeT) is thought to be an important enzyme in the JH biosynthetic pathway, catalyzing methylation of farnesoic acid (FA) to methyl farnesoate (MF). Previous evidence in other insects suggested that FAMeT is rate limiting and regulated by a neuropeptide family, the allatostatins. A full-length cDNA encoding a 296 amino acid putative FAMeT has been isolated. A recombinant (r)FAMeT was cloned, expressed and a specific antiserum generated. rFAMeT was assayed for enzymatic activity using a radiochemical assay. In this assay, no activity was detected either with rFAMeT alone or when added to a corpus allatum CA extract. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to confirm the presence of FAMeT in the CA of Drosophila melanogaster ring gland. Analysis of MF, JHIII and JHB3 release in wild type and mutant stocks in the presence and absence of Drome AST (PISCF-type) suggest that Drosophila FAMeT has little if any effect on sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. Drome AST appears to have a select effect on JH bisepoxide biosynthesis and not MF or JHIII. Additional analysis of MF, JHIII and JHB3 release in strains with a deficiency or decrease of FAMeT compared to wild type shows no significant decrease in MF, JHIII or JH bisepoxide synthesis. Deficiency strains that reduce the level of FAMeT showed reduced longevity relative to wildtype but this result may be due to other genetic influences.