昆虫冷驯化机制研究进展

昆虫耐寒性强弱决定其种群的发生、扩散和分布,因此低温胁迫下昆虫的抗寒对策成为近期研究的热点领域。冷驯化作为一种非常有效的耐寒策略,可显著增强昆虫的耐寒性。本文论述了冷驯化的2种基本形式:快速冷驯化和长时冷驯化,明确了二者在提升昆虫耐寒性中的作用;并从宏观到微观的角度概述了冷驯化的作用机制,如组织和细胞水平的特异性,低分子量抗冻保护剂的产生,热休克蛋白的表达及功能,以及阻止细胞程序性死亡的潜在机理等;讨论了不同研究方法所引起的结果差异性,并强调了冷驯化作用机制的整体效益和综合效益。最后通过分析2种冷驯化形式的联系与区别,以期较为全面地阐明昆虫冷驯化的潜在机制。

Progress in research on cold hardening in insects

Cold hardiness is crucial for the establishment, dispersion and distribution of insect populations. Consequently, the cold tolerance strategies of insects have become a popular research topic. Cold hardening, as an effective cold tolerance strategy, can remarkably improve the chill tolerance of insects. This paper introduces two basic forms of cold hardening; rapid cold hardening and cold acclimation, and their respective roles in insect cold shock resistance. Cold hardening mechanisms are summarized from both macroscopic and microcosmic perspectives, including their specificity at the tissue and cell levels, the increased level of low-molecular weight cryoprotectants, the expression and function of specific protective proteins such as hot shock proteins and the underlying mechanism of blocking cold- induced apoptosis etc. Differences in reported results due to different research methods are discussed and the comprehensive and integrated effects of the two types of cold hardening are emphasized. In addition, correlations and differences between the two types of cold hardening are analyzed in order to better reveal intrinsic mechanisms of cold hardening in insects.