Molecular basis of (E)-β-farnesene-mediated aphid location in the predator Eupeodes corollae

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Population dynamics of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis （Diptera： Tephritidae） in the Kunming area,southwestern China

Population dynamics of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel （Diptera： Tephritidae） were studied through pheromone trapping over 4 years （1997, 1999, 2000, 2003） in the Kunming region, a high plateau area in southwestern China. B. dorsalis immigrates from southern Yunnan to Kunming each year, and occurs during early May through November. Annual trap captures recorded an increase in the B. dorsalis populations from May to July, when they peaked in abundance, and a decline until November. No flies were detected from November to April. The fruit flies had two generations. There was considerable overlapping due to the continuous arrival of immigrating flies during the summer months. Annual capture rates were significantly related to numbers of flies caught in July when peak captures were recorded; whereas the peak captures, in turn, positively depended on numbers of flies recorded in May, the first month of fly appearance in the current year. It suggested that the annual population abundance was mainly dependent on the size of the initial emigrating population. A daily average temperature of 18℃ was probably the threshold temperature required for the flies to undertake long-range dispersal, which partially explained the start of the fly in May each year on this high plateau. Under field conditions, the fruit flies can withstand 13℃ as a daily average temperature. No flies were recorded in any of the study years at a daily temperature colder than 10 ℃.     

桔小实蝇气味结合蛋白BdorOBP2的cDNA克隆、组织表达及配基结合特性

为了研究桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis气味结合蛋白(odorant-binding proteins, OBPs)参与其嗅觉识别过程中的功能及其与植物气味的结合特性, 本研究克隆了桔小实蝇的一个气味结合蛋白基因, 命名为BdorOBP2（GenBank登录号为KC773766）, 并对该基因进行了原核表达。BdorOBP2开放阅读框长447 bp, 编码148 个氨基酸, 具有典型的6个半胱氨酸位点。定量PCR结果显示, 桔小实蝇BdorOBP2在不同组织中均有表达, 其中头部中的表达量最高, 翅中表达量最低（为头部表达量的63%±6%）。构建了BdorOBP2原核表达载体, 诱导并获得了重组BdorOBP2并进行了亲和层析纯化。最后以N-苯基-1-萘胺（N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, 1-NPN）为荧光探针, 利用荧光竞争结合实验测定了重组BdorOBP2与7种主要寄主水果气味物质的结合能力, 发现其对多数酯类和醛类化合物亲合力较强, 亲合力最强的气味物质为反-2-己烯醛和β-紫罗兰酮, 结合常数KD分别为9.96和15.37 μmol/L。本研究结果可为高效地开发和设计桔小实蝇的嗅觉引诱剂配方提供一定的理论依据和参考。     

基于CLIMEX的桔小实蝇在中国适生区的预测

桔小实蝇Bactroceradorsalis(Hendel),属双翅目Diptera,果实蝇科Tetriphitidae,主要分布在热带和亚热带地区。温度和湿度是影响桔小实蝇分布的重要气候因子。根据桔小实蝇对温湿度等气候因子的反应,采用CLIMEX软件对桔小实蝇在中国大陆的适生区进行了预测。设置了CLIMEX中的相应参数17个:发育起点温度DV0、生长最适宜温度范围DV1～DV2、致死高温DV3、有效发育积温PDD。生长发育所需最低土壤湿度临界SM0、最适宜湿度范围SM1～SM2、最高土壤湿度临界SM3。冷胁迫日度临界DTCS及其积累速率DHCS,热胁迫临界温度TTHS及其积累速率THHS,干旱胁迫临界SMDS及其积累速率HDS,湿胁迫SMWS及其积累速率HWS。以印度和夏威夷为已知适生分布区,反复调试修正上述这些参数值,使之与已知广泛分布的地区达到最大程度的吻合。然后用优化后的参数和中国大陆85个气象站点的气象资料模拟桔小实蝇在中国大陆的适生分布,结果显示:广东、海南、香港、广西、四川、云南、湖南、湖北、福建、江西、浙江等11个省(区)是桔小实蝇的适生分布区。主要分布在我国的华南和西南大部分地区,以及华中和华东的部分地区。根据CLIMEX模拟结果的EI值大小,将桔小实蝇在我国大陆的适生分布情况进一步划分为最适宜、次适宜、适宜和非适宜4个气候区,即华南地区全部以及广西省全境是桔小实蝇的最适宜分布区,除桂林(EI=17)外,其余气象点的EI值均大于40;西南地区的四川、云南两省及福建沿海地区是桔小实蝇的次适宜分布区,平均EI值为29.7;适宜分布区包括湖南、湖北、江西、浙江的少数地区,除赣州(EI=17)外,其余点的EI值均小于10;长江以北的广大地区是桔小实蝇的非适宜区,这些地区不适合桔小实蝇生存。     

昆虫气味结合蛋白的研究进展

摘要: 昆虫主要依赖其复杂且灵敏的化学感受系统来识别并区分外界环境中的各种化学信号。嗅觉是负责嗅觉信号传导的感官方式,能够引起昆虫觅食、产卵、交配和躲避天敌等对生存和繁殖至关重要的行为反应。在嗅觉感知过程中,气味结合蛋白(odorant binding proteins, OBPs)最先与外界脂溶性化学物质相互作用,并将其转运至化学受体神经元上,激活树突膜表面分布的嗅觉受体(olfactory receptors, ORs),是嗅觉系统正常运行的必需蛋白。近年来,随着高通量测序和分子生物学技术的快速发展,越来越多的昆虫OBPs相继得以鉴定并开展功能研究。昆虫OBPs是一类可溶性的小分子蛋白,一般由6个α-螺旋构成一个稳定、紧密的疏水性结合腔,其构象变化因昆虫种类和配体结构不同而有所差异。OBPs的分布不受限于嗅觉器官,还在口器、足、中肠、腺体等非嗅觉组织中表达,具有嗅觉识别、味觉感受、营养物质转运、信息素合成与释放、组织发育与分化等生理功能。OBPs行使以上功能的共同特性为结合和溶解包括信息素组分、普通气味分子和非挥发性物质等的疏水性小分子物质。昆虫OBPs的稳定性和多功能性暗示其可广泛应用于害虫防治、生物传感器、分析化学、生态学等多个领域。本文对过去20多年来昆虫OBPs的相关研究进行综述,为进一步深入开展OBPs的功能研究提供理论参考。     

Queen Bee Pheromone Binding Protein pH-Induced Domain Swapping Favors Pheromone Release

In honeybee (Apis mellifera) societies, the queen controls the development and the caste status of the members of the hive. Queen bees secrete pheromonal blends comprising 10 or more major and minor components, mainly hydrophobic. The major component, 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid (9-ODA), acts on the workers and male bees (drones), eliciting social or sexual responses. 9-ODA is captured in the antennal lymph and transported to the pheromone receptor(s) in the sensory neuron membranes by pheromone binding proteins (PBPs). A key issue is to understand how the pheromone, once tightly bound to its PBP, is released to activate the receptor. We report here on the structure at physiological pH of the main antennal PBP, ASP1, identified in workers and male honeybees, in its apo or complexed form, particularly with the main component of the queen mandibular pheromonal mixture (9-ODA). Contrary to the ASP1 structure at low pH, the ASP1 structure at pH 7.0 is a domain-swapped dimer with one or two ligands per monomer. This dimerization is disrupted by a unique residue mutation since Asp35 Asn and Asp35 Ala mutants remain monomeric at pH 7.0, as does native ASP1 at pH 4.0. Asp35 is conserved in only ∼ 30% of medium-chain PBPs and is replaced by other residues, such as Asn, Ala and Ser, among others, thus excluding that they may perform domain swapping. Therefore, these different medium-chain PBPs, as well as PBPs from moths, very likely exhibit different mechanisms of ligand release or receptor recognition.     

Silencing the odorant receptor co-receptor RproOrco affects the physiology and behavior of the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus

Olfaction is one of the main sensory modalities that allow insects to interpret their environment. Several proteins, including odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and odorant receptors (ORs), are involved in this process. Odorant receptors are ion channels formed by a binding unit OR and an odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco). The main goal of this study was to characterize the Orco gene of Rhodnius prolixus (RproOrco) and to infer its biological functions using gene silencing. The full-length RproOrco gene sequence was downloaded from VectorBase. This gene has 7 introns and is located in the genome SuperContig GL563069: 1,017,713–1,023,165. RproOrco encodes a protein of 473 amino acids, with predicted 7 transmembrane domains, and is highly expressed in the antennae during all R. prolixus developmental stages. The RNAi technique effectively silenced RproOrco, reducing the gene's expression by approximately 73%. Interestingly, the effect of gene silencing persisted for more than 100 days, indicating a prolonged effect of dsRNA that was maintained even after molting. The phenotypic effects of silencing involved the following: (1) loss of the ability to find a vertebrate host in a timely manner, (2) decreased ingested blood volume, (3) delayed and decreased molt rate, (4) increased mortality rate, and (5) decreased egg laying. Our data strongly suggest that dsOrco disrupts R. prolixus host-finding behavior, which is further reflected in the blood ingestion, molting, mortality, and egg laying data. This study clearly demonstrates that Orco is an excellent target for controlling triatomine populations. Thus, the data presented here open new possibilities for the control of vector-borne diseases.     

The crystal structure of odorant binding protein 7 from Anopheles gambiae exhibits an outstanding adaptability of its binding site

Anopheles gambiae (Agam) targets human and animals by using its olfactory system, leading to the spread of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria vector. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) participate to the first event in odorant recognition and constitute an interesting target for insect control. OBPs interact with olfactory receptors to which they deliver the odorant molecule. We have undertaken a large-scale study of proteins belonging to the olfactory system of Agam with in mind of designing strong olfactory repellants. Here, we report the expression, three-dimensional structures and binding properties of AgamOBP07, a member of a new structural class of OBPs, characterized by the occurrence of eight cysteines. We showed that AgamOBP07 possesses seven α-helices and four disulfide bridges, instead of six α-helices and three disulfide bridges in classical OBPs. The extra seventh helix is located at the surface of the protein, locked by the fourth disulfide bridge, and forms a wall of the internal cavity. The binding site of the protein is mainly hydrophobic, elongated and open and is able to accommodate elongated ligands, linear or polycyclic, as suggested also by binding experiments. An elongated electron density was observed in the internal cavity of the purified protein, belonging to a serendipitous ligand. The structure of AgamOBP07 in complex with an azo-bicyclic model compound reveals that a large conformational change in the protein has reshaped its binding site, provoking helix 4 unfolding and doubling of the cavity volume.     

Structural basis of the honey bee PBP pheromone and pH-induced conformational change

The behavior of insects and their perception of their surroundings are driven, in a large part, by odorants and pheromones. This is especially true for social insects, such as the honey bee, where the queen controls the development and the caste status of the other individuals. Pheromone perception is a complex phenomenon relying on a cascade of recognition events, initiated in antennae by pheromone recognition by a pheromone-binding protein and finishing with signal transduction at the axon membrane level. With to the objective of deciphering this initial step, we have determined the structures of the bee antennal pheromone-binding protein (ASP1) in the apo form and in complex with the main component of the queen mandibular pheromonal mixture, 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid (9-ODA) and with nonpheromonal components. In the apo protein, the C terminus obstructs the binding site. In contrast, ASP1 complexes have different open conformations, depending on the ligand shape, leading to different volumes of the binding cavity. The binding site integrity depends on the C terminus (111-119) conformation, which involves the interplay of two factors; i.e. the presence of a ligand and a low pH. Ligand binding to ASP1 is favored by low pH, opposite to what is observed with other pheromone-binding proteins, such as those of Bombyx mori and Anopheles gambiae.     

Fruit fly behavior in response to chemosensory signals

An important question in contemporary sensory neuroscience is how animals perceive their environment and make appropriate behavioral choices based on chemical perceptions. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster exhibits robust tastant and odor-evoked behaviors. Understanding how the gustatory and olfactory systems support the perception of these contact and volatile chemicals and translate them into appropriate attraction or avoidance behaviors has made an unprecedented contribution to our knowledge of the organization of chemosensory systems. In this review, I begin by describing the receptors and signaling mechanisms of the Drosophila gustatory and olfactory systems and then highlight their involvement in the control of simple and complex behaviors. The topics addressed include feeding behavior, learning and memory, navigation behavior, neuropeptide modulation of chemosensory behavior, and I conclude with a discussion of recent work that provides insight into pheromone signaling pathways.