昆虫鞣化激素及其受体研究进展

昆虫通过多种激素调控蜕皮过程,以完成生长发育。鞣化激素与其受体结合,调节昆虫表皮发育及鞣化、翅的伸展和成熟、肌肉收缩、卵子边缘细胞的迁移等,对昆虫的生长发育具有重要作用。鞣化激素由两个亚基(BURS和PBURS)构成,主要在胸腹神经节中合成,两个亚基在结构及其进化上较为保守,氨基酸序列中均含有11个半胱氨酸残基,在某些特定的组织中具有独立的生物学活性。鞣化激素受体为G蛋白偶联受体(G protein coupled receptor,GPCR)亚家族成员,富含亮氨酸重复序列,被命名为d LGR2。LGR2的C端区域(含多个丝氨酸残基)和N端区域(富含亮氨酸重复结构域)对于其行使正常功能具有重要作用。鞣化激素释放至血淋巴中与LGR2结合,激活c AMP/PKA信号,使酪氨酸羟化酶(Tyrosinehydroxylase,TH)磷酸化,磷酸化的TH将酪氨酸(Tyrosine)羟化为多巴(DOPA),进而引起表皮的黑化和硬化过程。另外,昆虫鞣化激素亚基形成的同源二聚体可激活转录因子Relish,调控免疫反应。本文结合近年来该领域研究成果,对鞣化激素及其受体的分子结构特性和时空表达进行分析,同时,对其在翅的延展和成熟、表皮黑化和硬化以及免疫等方面的功能研究进展进行综述,为深入认识昆虫鞣化激素及其受体作用机制提供参考。     

棉铃虫酪氨酸羟化酶基因的分子特性及功能分析

【目的】酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase, TH)是黑色素形成的关键酶,在昆虫表皮骨化过程中扮演重要角色。本研究旨在获得棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera TH基因序列,并研究其分子特性、表达模式和功能,为更深入探析该基因作用机理奠定基础。【方法】通过生物信息学和分子生物学技术获得了棉铃虫TH基因序列,利用qRT-PCR分析该基因在棉铃虫不同生长发育阶段的表达模式;利用qRT-PCR技术,分别测定了蜕皮激素20E(400 ng/头)处理不同时间和RNAi成功干扰蜕皮激素受体基因(EcR)前提下再用20E(400 ng/头)处理后,棉铃虫5龄幼虫TH表达量变化;采用生物化学方法检测鞣化激素(30 μg/mg组织)和环腺苷酸(cAMP, 200 ng/mg 组织)处理后棉铃虫幼虫脂肪体中TH活性。【结果】获得了棉铃虫酪氨酸羟化酶基因TH (GenBank登录号: MF440319) cDNA片段,长2 270 bp,开放阅读框1 686 bp,编码561个氨基酸残基。该基因在棉铃虫整个发育期均表达,其中在卵期第3天、2龄幼虫第1天、3-5龄蜕皮期、预蛹期和成虫羽化第1天表达量相对较高。研究还发现,400 ng/头 20E注射能够促进TH的转录;在成功干扰并调低幼虫EcR转录水平的前提条件下(对照仅注射dsGFP)再注射20E,对TH表达量无明显影响;而鞣化激素(30 μg/mg组织)和cAMP(200 ng/mg组织)均显著提高了TH的酶活性。【结论】20E在转录水平参与了TH的表达;鞣化激素和cAMP均能够提高TH活性,在蛋白水平上对TH进行调控。     

家蚕鞣化激素基因对翅展及繁殖力的调控作用

【目的】昆虫鞣化激素(Bursicon)是由神经系统分泌的一种异源二聚体神经肽,对昆虫表皮鞣化、翅展等功能具有调控作用。本研究旨在探究鞣化激素基因与家蚕Bombyx mori翅发育及对繁殖力相关基因的关系,明确其对翅展和繁殖力的调控作用。【方法】采用RNAi技术,分别注射Bursicon基因的dsRNA(dsBmBurs-α, dsBmBurs-β和dsBmBurs-α+dsBmBurs-β)到家蚕1日龄蛹,以注射dsGFP为对照。观察RNAi后家蚕表型,并计算家蚕单雌产卵量;利用实时定量PCR技术检测Bursicon基因RNAi后家蚕羽化后24 h成虫中翅发育相关基因(BmWg, BmFt, BmFj和BmDs)和RNAi 48和72 h后家蚕蛹中繁殖相关基因(卵黄原蛋白基因BmVg和卵黄原蛋白受体基因BmVgR)的表达水平。【结果】家蚕Bursicon基因被RNAi后,羽化后24 h的家蚕翅不能正常伸展,dsBmBurs-α,dsBmBurs-β和dsBmBurs-α+dsBmBurs-β处理组的翅畸形率分别为93.33%, 96.67%和96.43%;平均单雌产卵量分别为312.67, 332.00和284.00粒,显著低于对照组(406.00粒)。RNAi干扰Bursicon基因后,家蚕Bursicon基因BmBurs-α和BmBurs-β表达量显著下调,其相关基因BmWg, BmFt, BmFj, BmDs, BmVg和BmVgR的表达水平均显著低于对照组。【结论】鞣化激素基因参与调节家蚕翅发育相关基因的转录水平来调控翅展。同时,它们还可以参与调节繁殖相关基因BmVg和BmVgR的表达,从而影响家蚕的繁殖。     

白念珠菌Ras/cAMP/P KA途径研究进展

白念珠菌引起的真菌感染严重威胁着人类健康。Ras/cAMP/PKA途径在白念珠菌菌丝发育、生物被膜形成、有性生殖以及耐药性中起着重要的调控作用,该通路由GTPases(Ras1和Ras2)、腺苷环化酶(Cyr1)、cAMP水解酶(Pde1和Pde2)以及PKA激酶(包括催化亚基Tpk1和Tpk2,调节亚基Bcy1)构成。环境因子通过Ras/cAMP/PKA途径调控下游转录因子,进而调节白念珠菌多种生物学行为。文中综述了近年来白念珠菌Ras/cAMP/PKA信号通路感应胞外环境因子和调控细胞行为等方面的研究进展。     

禾谷缢管蚜鞣化激素基因克隆及功能分析

【目的】探讨禾谷缢管蚜 Rhopalosiphum padi （Linnaeus）鞣化激素基因的发育表达模式及功能。【方法】采用转录组测序得到禾谷缢管蚜鞣化激素基因bursicon-α 和 bursicon-β cDNA序列。通过实时荧光定量PCR方法,分析该基因的发育表达模式。利用RNA干扰（RNA interference, RNAi）介导 bursicon-α 和bursicon-β 沉默,分析鞣化激素的功能。【结果】序列分析结果显示,禾谷缢管蚜鞣化激素α亚基基因（bursicon-α）cDNA序列开放阅读框为480 bp,编码159个氨基酸残基;β亚基基因（bursicon-β）cDNA序列开放阅读框为417 bp,编码138个氨基酸残基。时序表达分析表明,鞣化激素两个亚基基因在禾谷缢管蚜整个发育期均有表达,以1龄若蚜期表达量最高;成蚜有翅个体中表达量显著高于无翅个体。RNAi介导的 bursicon-α 和 bursicon-β 沉默均能显著抑制禾谷缢管蚜成蚜表皮的黑化。【结论】研究结果表明,鞣化激素在禾谷缢管蚜体壁黑化中发挥着重要作用。该结果为进一步研究鞣化激素在蚜虫生长发育过程中的生理功能提供了基础资料。     

南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆南亚实蝇Zeugodacus tau鞣化激素基因,分析其分子特征及时空表达模式,为探索其生理功能奠定基础。【方法】利用同源克隆和RACE技术从南亚实蝇刚羽化成虫中克隆鞣化激素基因bursicon-α和bursicon-β的全长cDNA序列,并用邻接法(neighbor-joining method)与其他昆虫同源序列构建系统发育进化树。利用荧光定量PCR技术检测这两个基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段(卵、1-3龄幼虫、预蛹、蛹和刚羽化成虫)的表达特性。【结果】克隆获得南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因bursicon-α(GenBank登录号:MH421861)和bursicon-β(GenBank登录号:MH421862)。bursicon-α基因开放阅读框为551 bp,编码183个氨基酸;bursicon-β基因开放阅读框为467 bp,编码156个氨基酸。基于两个鞣化激素基因的氨基酸序列的系统发育树分析显示,南亚实蝇Bursicon-α与Bursicon-β均与瓜实蝇Zeugodacus cucurbitae的同源蛋白亲缘关系最近,且与其他双翅目昆虫的同源蛋白聚为一类,形成独立的分支。荧光定量PCR结果表明,两个基因在南亚实蝇各龄期均有表达,均在第5天蛹和刚羽化成虫翅伸展时期表达量最高。【结论】bursicon-α和bursicon-β基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段表达量不同,推测其在南亚实蝇成虫表皮鞣化和翅的形成中发挥着重要作用。本研究为进一步探索鞣化激素在南亚实蝇生长过程中表皮的骨化、翅的重建等方面的功能机制奠定了基础。     

PrPc介导的细胞信号转导

朊病毒病的发生是由于细胞正常朊蛋白PrPc转变成了异常构象的PrPc形式。PrPc的生理学功能目前尚不完全明确,可能与铜离子代谢、脂质摄取以及细胞信号传递有关。PrPc可以与小窝蛋白相互作用而活化Fyn非受体酪氨酸激酶从而引起下游信号通路的转导;可以作为受体与PrPc键合多肽结合后激活cAMP／PKA信号通路;以及引起细胞内钙离子浓度变化而活化信号通路。     

本期重点推介

<正>禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi是小麦等多种禾谷类作物上普遍发生的一种害虫,是我国小麦蚜虫优势种。鞣化激素对昆虫表皮鞣化和翅的延展具有重要作用,但涉及蚜虫的相关研究报道较少。为了进一步研究鞣化激素在蚜虫生长发育及免疫防御中的生理功能,并探索害虫防治新靶标,河南农业大学植物保护学院刘孝明、燕赛英、安世恒和尹新明等采用转录组测序得到禾谷缢管蚜鞣化激素基因bursicon-α和bursicon-βc DNA序列,通过实时荧光定量PCR方法分析     

白血病抑制因子促进胚泡植入的研究进展

白血病抑制因子是一多效性细胞因子,能促进哺乳动物的早期胚胎发育和启动胚泡植入,其基因表达和生物合成受母体因素(如甾体激素和其他细胞因子)的控制.gp130是白血病抑制因子家族受体的亲和力转化亚基,其同源/异源亚基的二聚体能够激活酪氨酸激酶,通过不同途径调节靶基因的表达.     

中国米虾bursicon基因的功能及作用机制

为探讨米虾鞣化激素在其蜕皮周期及表皮角质层形成过程中的作用, 采用PCR技术克隆得到了米虾鞣化激素两个亚基基因的开放阅读框(ORF)序列。bursicon-α ORF全长441 bp, 共编码146个氨基酸; bursicon-β ORF全长411 bp, 共编码136个氨基酸。利用实时荧光定量PCR分析米虾整个蜕皮周期中鞣化激素2个亚基基因的表达特征, 结果发现, 鞣化激素bursicon-α和bursicon-β在米虾蜕皮周期的各个阶段的相对表达量存在差异, 在蜕皮前期(D期)相对表达量开始上升, 到D₃期时相对表达量最高, 蜕皮期E期相对表达量最低。RNA干扰(RNA interference, RNAi)介导bursicon-α和bursicon-β基因沉默后, 发现米虾的蜕皮周期延长, 表皮角质层明显变薄。结果提示, 鞣化激素(Bursicon)与新形成的外骨骼中角质层的加厚与硬化密切相关, 进而影响蜕皮时间。     

Functional characterization of bursicon receptor and genome-wide analysis for identification of genes affected by bursicon receptor RNAi

Bursicon is an insect neuropeptide hormone that is secreted from the central nervous system into the hemolymph and initiates cuticle tanning. The receptor for bursicon is encoded by the rickets (rk) gene and belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. The bursicon and its receptor regulate cuticle tanning as well as wing expansion after adult eclosion. However, the molecular action of bursicon signaling remains unclear. We utilized RNA interference (RNAi) and microarray to study the function of the bursicon receptor (Tcrk) in the model insect, Tribolium castaneum. The data included here showed that in addition to cuticle tanning and wing expansion reported previously, Tcrk is also required for development and expansion of integumentary structures and adult eclosion. Using custom microarrays, we identified 24 genes that are differentially expressed between Tcrk RNAi and control insects. Knockdown in the expression of one of these genes, TC004091, resulted in the arrest of adult eclosion. Identification of genes that are involved in bursicon receptor mediated biological processes will provide tools for future studies on mechanisms of bursicon action.     

小菜蛾鞣化激素基因克隆及其功能分析

鞣化激素是调节昆虫表皮骨化和翅膀发育的一种神经激素, 尽管已经在许多不同种昆虫上克隆了鞣化激素基因, 但是关于小菜蛾 Plutella xylostella鞣化激素及其基因的研究至今未见报道。本研究克隆了两个小菜蛾鞣化激素基因Pxbursα和Pxbursβ （GenBank 登录号分别为KF498645和KF498646）全长cDNA, 其序列长度分别为537 bp和360 bp, 与已报道的其他昆虫的鞣化激素氨基酸序列一致性分别为51%~68% 和37%~57%。实时定量PCR分析发现Pxbursα和Pxbursβ均在蛹期表达量高, 而在幼虫期和成虫期的表达量低。以Pxbursα部分序列的双链RNA（dsRNA）饲喂小菜蛾4龄末期幼虫, 发现蛹期Pxbursα的表达受到了显著抑制, 小菜蛾的发育停滞在蛹期而无法正常羽化, 并最终死亡。由此推测, 小菜蛾鞣化激素基因在蛹期的大量表达对其生长发育和羽化具有重要的作用。     

From bioassays to Drosophila genetics: strategies for characterizing an essential insect neurohormone, bursicon

We describe the molecular analysis and cellular expression of the insect peptide neurohormone, bursicon. Bursicon triggers the sclerotization of the soft insect cuticle after ecdysis. Using protein elution analyses from SDS gels, we determined the molecular weight of bursicon from different insects to be approximately 30 kDa. Four partial peptide sequences of Periplaneta americana bursicon were obtained from purified nerve cord homogenates separated on two-dimensional gels. Antibodies produced against one of the sequences identified the cellular location of bursicon in different insects and showed that bursicon is co-produced with crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) in the same neurons in all insects tested so far. Additionally, using the partial peptide sequences, we successfully searched the Drosophila genome project for the gene encoding bursicon. With Drosophila as a tool, we can now verify the function of the sequence using transgenic flies. Sequence comparisons also allowed us to verify that bursicon is conserved, corroborating the older data from bioassays and immunohistochemical analyses. The sequence of bursicon will enable further analysis of its function, release, and evolution.     

灰飞虱Bursicon基因的克隆、序列分析及在不同发育阶段的表达

Bursicon是通过G蛋白受体调节昆虫表皮硬化及展翅的功能蛋白, 它在昆虫蜕皮后的表皮硬化过程中起着关键作用。为探讨灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus的 bursicon的功能, 利用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆获得1 126 bp的bursicon α和761 bp的bursicon β全长序列, 将其分别命名为Lsburs-α和Lsburs-β。生物信息学分析表明： Lsburs-α开放阅读框长483 bp, 编码160个氨基酸, 该蛋白具有2个N-豆蔻酰化位点、 3个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点以及2个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点。Lsburs-β开放阅读框长417 bp, 编码138个氨基酸, 该蛋白具有2个N-豆蔻酰化位点、 3个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点以及1个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点。qRT-PCR结果表明： Lsburs-α和Lsburs-β在灰飞虱各龄期均有转录表达, 并在若虫期随龄期增加呈上升趋势, 在羽化期达到峰值, 成虫期表达量逐渐降低。结果提示bursicon与灰飞虱蜕皮后的外表皮硬化关系密切。本文结果为深入研究bursicon的功能、受体调节和信号通路等奠定了基础。     

Identification of the gene encoding bursicon, an insect neuropeptide responsible for cuticle sclerotization and wing spreading

To accommodate growth, insects must periodically replace their exoskeletons. After shedding the old cuticle, the new soft cuticle must sclerotize. Sclerotization has long been known to be controlled by the neuropeptide hormone bursicon, but its large size of 30 kDa has frustrated attempts to determine its sequence and structure. Using partial sequences obtained from purified cockroach bursicon, we identified the Drosophila melanogaster gene CG13419 as a candidate bursicon gene. CG13419 encodes a peptide with a predicted final molecular weight of 15 kDa, which likely functions as a dimer. This predicted bursicon protein belongs to the cystine knot family, which includes vertebrate transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and glycoprotein hormones. Point mutations in the bursicon gene cause defects in cuticle sclerotization and wing expansion behavior. Bioassays show that these mutants have decreased bursicon bioactivity. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed that bursicon is co-expressed with crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP). Transgenic flies that lack CCAP neurons also lacked bursicon bioactivity. Our results indicate that CG13419 encodes bursicon, the last of the classic set of insect developmental hormones. It is the first member of the cystine knot family to have a defined function in invertebrates. Mutants show that the spectrum of bursicon actions is broader than formerly demonstrated.     

Drosophila molting neurohormone bursicon is a heterodimer and the natural agonist of the orphan receptor DLGR2

Bursicon is a neurohumoral agent responsible for tanning and hardening of the cuticle and expansion of the wings during the final phase of insect metamorphosis. Although the hormonal activity was described more than 40 years ago, the molecular nature of bursicon has remained elusive. We identify here Drosophila bioactive bursicon as a heterodimer made of two cystine knot polypeptides. This conclusion was reached in part from the unexpected observation that in the genome of the honey bee, the orthologs of the two Drosophila proteins are predicted to be fused in a single open reading frame. The heterodimeric Drosophila protein displays bursicon bioactivity in freshly enclosed neck-ligated flies and is the natural agonist of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor DLGR2.     

Bursicon release and activity in haemolymph during metamorphosis of the cockroach,Leucophaea maderae

Bursicon activity first appears in the haemolymph of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae, early in ecdysis as the old cuticle splits and separates over the thorax. Hormonal activity reaches high levels in the haemolymph before ecdysis is complete and remains so for about 1·5 hr, with a gradual decline and disappearance by 3 hr. The sensory mechanism controlling bursicon release is located in the thorax and appears to be stimulated as the ecdysial split widens for emergence of the thorax. If the abdomen is isolated before this time no tanning of abdominal cuticle occurs, while the isolated thorax proceeds to tan. Therefore the thoracic ganglia seem to be a site of release for bursicon. Release of the hormone from abdominal and head ganglia may also occur after neural stimulation from the thoracic system. Bursicon activity was found in all ganglia of the central nervous system and the corpora cardiaca-allata complex. Removal of the old cuticle prior to the start of ecdysial behaviour does not result in tanning of the new cuticle. However, if the old cuticle is removed after the insect begins to swallow air in preparation for ecdysis, then the new cuticle tans. Mechanical prevention of ecdysis and later removal of the old cuticle also does not result in tanning of the new cuticle. Therefore, shedding of the old cuticle only activates the release of bursicon in conjunction with other normal ecdysial events.