卵黄原蛋白在昆虫生理猖獗机制中的作用及应用前景

卵黄原蛋白（Vitellogenin,Vg）是雌性昆虫卵子成熟与胚胎发育的关键因子。昆虫Vg作为一种重要的生殖相关蛋白可以直接参与昆虫发育和产卵等重要生理过程,在害虫猖獗危害中起重要作用。另外,保幼激素、蜕皮激素等激素对Vg的合成具有严密地调控作用。本文综述了Vg在昆虫猖獗中的作用以及昆虫的内分泌激素如何通过调控Vg的表达而影响昆虫的猖獗为害,总结了利用Vg作为杀虫剂靶标的应用前景,旨在为了解Vg在昆虫生理猖獗中的作用机理及害虫防治应用前景提供参考,以期为探索新的害虫防治技术提供思路。     

吸血昆虫生殖调控的分子机制

吸血昆虫是可以传播病原微生物的一类节肢动物,包括蚊虫、白蛉、蠓、猎蝽、跳蚤等。由于其特殊的吸血习性,它们成为了疟疾、登革热、丝虫病、锥虫病等急性传染性疾病的媒介载体。虫媒疾病具有传播速度快、扩散面积广和危害重等特点,不仅严重危害人类健康,还容易造成巨大的经济损失。由于针对虫媒传染病的药物匮乏以及虫媒病原对化学药物抗性的不断增加,阻断吸血昆虫的生殖成为控制虫媒疾病传播的有效措施。保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)和20-羟基蜕皮激素(20-hydroxyecdysone, 20E)在昆虫生殖过程中扮演着重要的角色。JH与胞内受体复合物Met/Tai结合后调控JH/Met靶基因表达,进而促进卵黄发生过程,为昆虫之后的吸血及产卵提供了必要条件;20E胞内受体为EcR/USP组成的异源二聚体,两者结合后激活下游基因表达,诱导卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)合成,为发育的卵巢提供营养。营养信号通路(胰岛素信号通路以及氨基酸介导的雷帕霉素靶蛋白信号通路)同样可以激活Vg合成,促进昆虫生殖;此外,营养信号通路与JH和20E之间可以相互作用共同调控吸血昆虫发育和繁殖。碳水化合物代谢以及脂代谢等能量代谢过程是昆虫生殖过程中主要能量来源,可以满足吸血昆虫生殖发育不同阶段极高的能量需求。研究表明,JH和20E信号通路在能量代谢过程中起着重要的调控作用;微小RNA在蚊虫这一类吸血昆虫中被证明与肠道微生物稳态、血液消化以及脂代谢等生理学过程密切相关,进一步影响了蚊虫卵巢发育。近年来,随着分子生物学及测序技术的革新,吸血昆虫生殖调控机制的研究不断取得新的进展。本文主要阐述了吸血昆虫生殖调控的分子机制研究进展,以期为通过调控吸血昆虫生殖的方法以阻断病原传播提供重要线索。     

天蚕卵黄发生的激素调控

报告了蜕皮激素和保幼激素对天蚕Antheraea yamamai卵黄发生的调控作用。当单独以20－羟基蜕皮酮或保幼激素类似物methoprene处理,以及同时用这两种激素处理天蚕蛹时,蛹期脂肪体和血淋巴中卵黄原蛋白（Vg)含量明显高于对照,即二对Vg的合成起促进作用。然而,卵巢中卵黄蛋白（Vt)含量则因激素种类而异,以保幼激素处理时明显低于对照,以20－羟基蜕皮酮处理则反之,即前抑制卵巢对Vg的摄取,而后则起促进作用。离体培养脂肪体并以激素处理的结果表明,20－羟基蜕皮酮和methoprene均能促进Vg合成,但前作用更。综合考虑上述结果可以认为蜕皮激素对该蚕的卵黄发生起主要调控作用。     

昆虫变态发育的激素和营养调控研究进展与展望

变态发育是促进昆虫进化和多样性形成的重要因素之一。昆虫变态发育主要受到蜕皮激素和保幼激素的协同调控,通过信号通路诱导下游基因表达,保证蜕皮、组织重塑等生理过程的正确发生。除内在激素外,外在营养物质亦可通过营养信号影响激素信号进而控制变态发育进程。本文主要综述了近十年来我国科研工作者在昆虫变态发育的激素和营养调控机制研究方面所取得的突出成果,并对未来潜在的研究方向进行了展望,以期对我国的害虫防治和益虫利用研究提供理论指导。     

昆虫海藻糖代谢及其影响因素的研究进展

海藻糖广泛存在于细菌、真菌、动物和植物中。它不仅作为能量储备物质,在外界环境胁迫或内部代谢紊乱时,也可作为保护因子,保护其生命体度过逆境。昆虫海藻糖合成酶与海藻糖酶分别是海藻糖合成与分解的关键酶,合成的海藻糖在海藻糖转运蛋白的帮助下由胞内进入胞外。胰岛素与脂动激素直接参与昆虫糖代谢,保幼激素与蜕皮激素通过和胰岛素与脂动激素通路偶联,间接参与调控昆虫海藻糖代谢。海藻糖代谢途径和昆虫生长发育密切相关,昆虫海藻糖代谢信号通路为开发害虫控制的新靶标提供理论依据。     

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。     

昆虫卵黄原蛋白受体( VgＲs) 及其主要功能综述

卵黄原蛋白受体(VgRs)属于低密度脂蛋白受体家族成员,具有该家族典型的保守结构域,包括配体结合域,表皮生长因子前体同源域,跨膜域,O-联糖功能域,以及胞质尾域。昆虫VgRs通常具有卵巢特异性,是卵黄原蛋白Vg的专一性胞吞作用受体,可介导Vg进入昆虫卵母细胞,而后沉淀积累形成昆虫生殖必须的卵黄蛋白YP。VgRs介导的胞吞作用是一个动态循环过程,它是卵黄发生的基础,对昆虫卵母细胞发育起着至关重要的作用。近年来的研究表明,VgRs不仅与卵巢激活、卵黄发生与卵子形成密切相关,而且在昆虫信息交流、社会分化、行为构建以及免疫调控等中也起到了至关重要的作用,已成为潜在的害虫控制新靶标。本文首次对昆虫VgRs基因的序列信息,分子结构,系统进化,表达模式以及调控功能等方面进行了综述,旨在为了解VgRs基因的研究进展及前景提供参考,对进一步改进害虫生态控制的策略和措施也具有指导意义。     

昆虫卵母细胞对卵黄物质的摄取过程

昆虫卵母细胞如何摄取卵黄物质是卵黄发生研究中的关键问题之一,摄取作用具有高度的选择性和种属特异性。滤泡通过滤泡开放作用使Vg积聚在卵母细胞表面,保幼激素作用于Na~+/K~+ATP酶而调节滤泡开放,其摄取作用的分子机理在于卵母细胞膜上有Vg特异受体,Vg分子通过受体调节的内吞作用进入卵母细胞,并积累形成卵黄球。     

昆虫卵黄原蛋白受体的研究进展

昆虫卵黄发生的一个重要过程是卵黄蛋白的摄取,已有的研究表明脂肪体合成的卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin,Vg)是通过受体介导的内吞作用(receptor mediated endocytosis,RME)被正在发育的卵母细胞所摄取。昆虫卵黄原蛋白受体(vitellogenin receptor,VgR)是介导昆虫卵黄原蛋白胞吞作用主要受体,它属于低密度脂蛋白家族,在结构与特性上具低密度脂蛋白家族的共性。卵黄原蛋白及其受体在昆虫生殖过程中起着重要的作用,本文综述了昆虫VgR的基本特性、分子结构及表达调控等方面的研究进展。     

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.     

Juvenile hormone regulates vitellogenin gene expression through insulin-like peptide signaling pathway in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Our recent studies identified juvenile hormone (JH) and nutrition as the two key signals that regulate vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Juvenile hormone regulation of Vg synthesis has been known for a long time in several insects, but the mechanism of JH action is not known. Experiments were conducted to determine the mechanism of action of these two signals in regulation of Vg gene expression. Injection of bovine insulin or FOXO double-stranded RNA into the previtellogenic, starved, or JH-deficient female adults increased Vg mRNA and protein levels, thereby implicating the pivotal role for insulin-like peptide signaling in the regulation of Vg gene expression and possible cross-talk between JH and insulin-like peptide signaling pathways. Reduction in JH synthesis or its action by RNAi-mediated silencing of genes coding for acid methyltransferase or methoprene-tolerant decreased expression of genes coding for insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and influenced FOXO subcellular localization, resulting in the down-regulation of Vg gene expression. Furthermore, JH application to previtellogenic female beetles induced the expression of genes coding for ILP2 and ILP3, and induced Vg gene expression. FOXO protein expressed in baculovirus system binds to FOXO response element present in the Vg gene promoter. These data suggest that JH functions through insulin-like peptide signaling pathway to regulate Vg gene expression.     

Insecticides with novel modes of action: Mechanism, selectivity and cross-resistance

Efforts have been made during the past two decades to develop insecticides with selective properties that act specifically on biochemical sites present in particular insect groups, but whose properties differ from other insecticides. This approach has led to the discovery of compounds that affect the hormonal regulation of molting and developmental processes in insects; for example, ecdysone agonists, juvenile hormone mimics and chitin synthesis inhibitors. In addition, compounds that selectively interact with the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, such as imidacloprid, acetamiprid and thiamethoxam, have been introduced for the control of aphids, whiteflies and other insect species. Natural products acting selectively on insect pests, such as avermectins, spinosad and azadirachtin, have been introduced for controlling selected groups of insect pests. Compounds acting on the nervous site that controls the sucking pump of aphids and whiteflies, such as pymetrozine, or respiration, such as diafenthiuron, have been introduced for controlling sucking pests. All the above compounds are important components in pest and resistance management programs.     

昆虫海藻糖酶的基因特性及功能研究进展

海藻糖酶(Treh)是昆虫能量代谢必不可少的一类酶, 亦是昆虫体内几丁质合成通路的第一个酶。其基因表达和酶活性直接与正常发育、 蜕皮、 变态以及繁殖等昆虫重要生理过程密切相关。目前已有多种昆虫的海藻糖酶基因被成功克隆, 从而发现昆虫海藻糖酶基因家族由多个成员组成。海藻糖酶基因所编码的蛋白大多数具有一个信号肽前导区, 部分蛋白拥有1~2个跨膜结构域, 根据是否具有跨膜结构, 可将其分为可溶性海藻糖酶(Treh1)和膜结合型海藻糖酶(Treh2)两类, 膜结合型海藻糖酶具有2个特有的标签序列, 即“PGGRFREFYYWDSY”和“QWDYPNAWPP”。海藻糖酶的主要功能是将胞外和胞内的海藻糖降解成葡萄糖, 为昆虫的生命活动提供能量。具体表现为两个方面, 一是参与昆虫几丁质合成途径, 从而调控表皮、 中肠等处的几丁质合成; 二是通过与激素的协同作用, 调控昆虫体内海藻糖和葡萄糖等糖类物质的浓度变化, 从而有效保护体内细胞的适应并渡过相应的逆境环境, 并提高其抗逆能力。鉴于海藻糖酶的重要功能, 其已成为害虫控制的潜在新靶标。不同类型海藻糖酶的功能研究及酶抑制剂的研发与应用将进一步推动害虫生物防治的发展。     

昆虫卵黄蛋白及其激素调控的研究进展

卵黄蛋白的结构及其合成、摄取过程与激素的调控机理是目前昆虫生理学的研究热点之一。近几年,随着分子克隆技术、基因工程手段和生物信息学的发展,对卵黄蛋白基因的研究将为寻找害虫生物防治提供新途径。本文对昆虫卵黄蛋白及其激素调控进行了综述。为防治害虫再猖獗的发生和促进大量繁殖益虫提供重要的理论依据。     

RNAi Silencing of the HaHMG-CoA Reductase Gene Inhibits Oviposition in the Helicoverpa armigera Cotton Bollworm

RNA interference (RNAi) has considerable promise for developing novel pest control techniques, especially because of the threat of the development of resistance against current strategies. For this purpose, the key is to select pest control genes with the greatest potential for developing effective pest control treatments. The present study demonstrated that the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase; HMGR) gene is a potential target for insect control using RNAi. HMGR is a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway in insects. A complete cDNA encoding full length HMGR (encoding an 837-aa protein) was cloned from Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The HaHMGR (H. armigera HMGR) knockdown using systemic RNAi in vivo inhibited the fecundity of the females, effectively inhibited ovipostion, and significantly reduced vitellogenin (Vg) mRNA levels. Moreover, the oviposition rate of the female moths was reduced by 98% by silencing HaHMGR compared to the control groups. One-pair experiments showed that both the proportions of valid mating and fecundity were zero. Furthermore, the HaHMGR-silenced females failed to lay eggs (approximate 99% decrease in oviposition) in the semi-field cage performance. The present study demonstrated the potential implications for developing novel pest management strategies using HaHMGR RNAi in the control of H. armigera and other insect pests.     

茶树诱导抗虫性的研究进展

为了抵御植食性昆虫的为害,植物在进化过程中形成了包括组成抗性和诱导抗性在内的复杂防御体系.在通过受体识别茶树害虫为害后,茶树会启动早期信号事件,继而激活茉莉酸、水杨酸、乙烯和赤霉素等植物激素信号通路,从而引起次生代谢物的积累,最终对害虫产生直接和间接抗性.基于近年来茶树害虫为害诱导的茶树防御反应及其相关调控机理的研究进...