A new family of insect tyramine receptors

The Drosophila Genome Project database contains a gene, CG7431, annotated to be an "unclassifiable biogenic amine receptor." We have cloned this gene and expressed it in Chinese hamster ovary cells. After testing various ligands for G protein-coupled receptors, we found that the receptor was specifically activated by tyramine (EC(50), 5x10(-7)M) and that it showed no cross-reactivity with beta-phenylethylamine, octopamine, dopa, dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, tryptamine, serotonin, histamine, and a library of 20 Drosophila neuropeptides (all tested in concentrations up to 10(-5) or 10(-4)M). The receptor was also expressed in Xenopus oocytes, where it was, again, specifically activated by tyramine with an EC(50) of 3x10(-7)M. Northern blots showed that the receptor is already expressed in 8-hour-old embryos and that it continues to be expressed in all subsequent developmental stages. Adult flies express the receptor both in the head and body (thorax/abdomen) parts. In addition to the Drosophila tyramine receptor gene, CG7431, we found another closely related Drosophila gene, CG16766, that probably also codes for a tyramine receptor. Furthermore, we annotated similar tyramine-like receptor genes in the genomic databases from the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae and the honeybee Apis mellifera. These four tyramine or tyramine-like receptors constitute a new receptor family that is phylogenetically distinct from the previously identified insect octopamine/tyramine receptors. The Drosophila tyramine receptor is, to our knowledge, the first cloned insect G protein-coupled receptor that appears to be fully specific for tyramine.     

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of the vitellogenin receptor in the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis

As a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) superfamily, vitellogenin (Vg) receptor (VgR) is responsible for the uptake of Vg into developing oocytes and is a potential target for pest control. Here, a full-length VgR complementary DNA (named as CsVgR) was isolated and characterized in the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. The composite CsVgR gene contained an open reading frame of 5,484 bp encoding a protein of 1,827 amino acid residues. Structural analysis revealed that CsVgR contained two ligand-binding domains (LBDs) with four Class A (LDLR_A) repeats in LBD1 and seven in LBD2, which was structurally different from most non-Lepidopteran insect VgRs having five repeats in LBD1 and eight in LBD2. The developmental expression analysis showed that CsVgR messenger RNA expression was first detectable in 3-day-old pupae, sharply increased in newly emerged female adults, and reached a peak in 2-day-old female adults. Consistent with most other insects VgRs, CsVgR was exclusively expressed in the ovary. Notably, injection of dsCsVgR into late pupae resulted in fewer follicles in the ovarioles as well as reduced fecundity, suggesting a critical role of CsVgR in female reproduction. These results may contribute to the development of RNA interference-mediated disruption of reproduction as a control strategy of C. suppressalis.     

Amtyr1: characterization of a gene from honeybee (Apis mellifera) brain encoding a functional tyramine receptor

Biogenic amine receptors are involved in the regulation and modulation of various physiological and behavioral processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. We have cloned a member of this gene family from the CNS of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. The deduced amino acid sequence is homologous to tyramine receptors cloned from Locusta migratoria and Drosophila melanogaster as well as to an octopamine receptor cloned from Heliothis virescens. Functional properties of the honeybee receptor were studied in stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Tyramine reduced forskolin-induced cyclic AMP production in a dose-dependent manner with an EC50 of approximately 130 nM. A similar effect of tyramine was observed in membrane homogenates of honeybee brains. Octopamine also reduced cyclic AMP production in the transfected cell line but was both less potent (EC50 of approximately 3 microM) and less efficacious than tyramine. Receptor-encoding mRNA has a wide-spread distribution in the brain and subesophageal ganglion of the honeybee, suggesting that this tyramine receptor is involved in sensory signal processing as well as in higher-order brain functions.     

二化螟人工饲料研究初报

在温度为(29±1)℃,相对湿度为80%~90%的条件下,分别以3种人工饲料和天然饲料(新鲜水稻茎杆)对二化螟Chilo suppressalisWalker进行连续继代饲养。结果表明,3种人工饲料饲养的二化螟幼虫的生长历期、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹期及羽化率等均与天然饲料的基本接近,而且这3种人工饲料配制简便、成本较低,也不易霉变,是3种较为理想的人工饲料。通过第2代和第3代的继代繁殖表明,3种人工饲料和天然饲料饲养的二化螟的发育情况都稍有下降,但3种人工饲料与天然饲料间不存在显著差异。     

二化螟人工饲料关键因子的优化及其优化配方的饲养效果

采用5因子4水平正交试验,将作者在以前筛选出的二化螟Chilosuppressalis(Walker)人工饲料的5个关键因子进行了进一步的优化,并得出了二化螟人工饲料的优化配方,其成分如下:稻茎粉18.75g、大豆粉15.00g、麦芽粉15.00g、稻糠粉6.25g、茭白茎粉7.50g、干酪素10.00g、酵母粉18.75g、纤维素7.50g、蔗糖15.00g、葡萄糖7.50g、维生素C7.50g、复合维生素B3.00g、胆固醇0.375g、氯化胆碱0.25g、Beck氏盐2.50g、山梨酸1.35g、琼脂13.49g和自来水809.25g。通过连续3代继代饲养试验,比较了该优化配方和二化螟天然饲料水稻茎的饲养效果。结果表明,在一些关键指标上(如存活率、化蛹率和羽化率等),所优化的二化螟人工饲料配方的饲养效果明显的好于其天然饲料水稻茎的;而在许多其它的指标上(如蛹期、成虫期、产卵量、卵期和孵化率等),该优化配方对二化螟的饲养效果与水稻茎的相当;但该配方饲养的二化螟在第3代时幼虫历期明显的比水稻茎的有所延长。     

二化螟抗杀虫单和甲胺磷品系的生化特性

二化螟抗性和敏感品系分别采自浙江和安徽太湖。毒力测定结果表明,抗性品系对杀虫单和甲胺磷分别产生了37.7和52.7倍的抗性。代谢酶活性的测定结果显示,抗性品系多功能氧化酶氧脱甲基活性、氮脱甲基活性分别是敏感品系的3.3和1.34倍,而羧酸酯酶活性和谷胱甘肽转移酶活性两个品系之间没有显著差异。说明多功能氧化酶活性提高可能是二化螟对甲胺磷、杀虫单抗性的一个重要机制。为了研究二化螟可能存在的对沙蚕毒素杀虫剂靶标不敏感机制,采用RT-PCR 等分子生物学技术,分别对5个敏感个体和4抗性个体中克隆杀虫单作用的靶标烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体α1亚基（nAChR α subunit 1）cDNA序列进行了分子克隆。序列比较发现一共存在33个单核苷酸的多态性,其中14个引起了编码氨基酸的改变。但是没有发现与抗性有关的特有的碱基突变。     

抗二化螟的水稻品种筛选

【目的】筛选抗二化螟Chilo suppressalis水稻品种资源,明确其抗虫机理,是农业防治的基础。【方法】采用室内人工接虫为害和大田自然受害相结合的方法,鉴定了不同的水稻品种抗性;同时通过目测不同水稻植株外部形态特征、在网罩内供试品种上接入成虫后2 d的产卵量、幼虫孵化后2 d观察稻株内二化螟的存活率,探讨抗虫品种的抗虫机理。【结果】从344个水稻品种资源和当家品种中筛选出"碑田倒"和"银间杂糯"2个抗虫品种,以及"农飞"和"三香糯"等65个中抗品种,进一步对鉴定出的2个抗虫品种和65个中抗品种进行大田验证,发现符合率达88.06%;其中,抗虫品种"碑田倒"和"银间杂糯"稻株叶舌、叶耳紧贴,叶鞘紧包,脉间距较窄,其植株上的产卵量和幼虫存活率显著少于感虫品种"香稻"、"赣南早"、"三粒寸"、"赣优晚"及中抗品种"赛湖早"、"TKM6"。【结论】在籼稻、粳稻和糯稻中均可筛选出抗虫和中抗品种。其中,糯稻中的抗虫品种和中抗品种较多,占糯稻品种的33.3%;粳稻品种次之,中抗品种占20%,籼稻品种较少,为18.83%。其抗虫机理主要是稻株外部形态特征不利于二化螟蚁螟侵入、成虫产卵量少和幼虫生长发育不良、存活率低。     

Molecular cloning,expression analysis and functional confirmation of two ecdysone receptor isoforms from the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis

PCR techniques were used to clone and identify cDNAs for ecdysone receptor A and B1 (EcR-A and EcR-B1) isoforms from the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. They differ only in the N-terminal A/B regions and show high sequence identities to other insects' EcRs. At the wandering stage, EcR-B1 mRNA was expressed more abundantly in the midgut than in the epidermis and fat body, whereas expression levels of EcR-A mRNA were similar in the three tissues. In the epidermis of the last instar larvae, the maximal mRNA expression of both EcR-A and EcR-B1 was observed from the wandering to prepupal stages prior to the peak of ecdysteroid titer in the hemolymph. In gel mobility shift assays, in vitro translated C. suppressalis EcR-B1 (CsEcR-B1) and Bombyx mori ultraspiracle (BmUSP) proteins bound to the Pal 1 and Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 ecdysone response element as a heterodimer. These results indicate that the cDNAs isolated here encode functional ecdysone receptors.     

Twelve nuclear microsatellite loci for rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis W.)

We developed 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker). These loci were screened for 96 individuals from eight populations across China. The total number of alleles ranged from 3 to 33 and the expected heterozygosity at these loci ranged from 0.131 to 0.671. These molecular markers will be useful for fully investigating the population structure and host preference of C. suppressalis at fine spatial scales.     

Nutritional studies of the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis Walker,and its mass rearing

The nutritional requirements of the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis Walker were studied by rearing on synthetic food media in relation to the constituents of the rice plant. The larvae required amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, cholesterol, minerals and water extract of the rice plant for their growth. Among amino acids, arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophane and valine were indispensable for the growth, and these amino acids could not be synthesized in the larval body. Among vitamines, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, Ca-pantothenate, folic acid, biotin, cholin chloride and ascorbic acid were essential for the growth. Cholesterol is the only essential nutrient among fat-soluble factors. Fructose, glucose and sucrose showed high nutritive values among carbohydrates. Addition of the water extract of the rice plant to the media improved the development of the insects, but the excess amounts of it resulted inhibition of the growth. Two aromatic acids, benzoic and salicylic acids, were isolated as the growth inhibitory substance. p-methyl acetophenone isolated from the rice plant seemed to play an important role for the attraction of the insect. Mass rearing of the rice stem borer in a laboratory was carried out on two kinds of foods: living rice plant seedlings and synthetic food media. The rearing the insects on rice seedlings is easy if rice seeds are available. The rearing on synthetic food media is modified to simplify from these for the nutritional study. The rearing practices, merit and demerit of both methods are discussed.     

二化螟与稻纵卷叶螟幼虫取食诱导的水稻挥发物比较

前期研究结果表明,二化螟和稻纵卷叶螟幼虫为害所诱导的水稻挥发物能对二化螟绒茧蜂Apanteles chilonis Munakata、二化螟Chilo suppressalis(Walker)和稻纵卷叶螟Cnaphalocrocis medinalis(Guene)雌成虫的行为产生影响,并且两者的影响效应存在明显差异,但至今仍不清楚2种害虫危害后水稻挥发物的变化情况。利用动态吸附法对健康水稻苗、二化螟或稻纵卷叶螟幼虫为害苗的挥发物进行捕集与鉴定。在3种处理水稻苗中,共捕集到28种挥发物组分,包括萜类化合物、烷烃类化合物、酮类、醇类、水杨酸甲酯和一些未知化合物。二化螟和稻纵卷叶螟为害均能导致水稻挥发物总量和大多挥发物组分释放量的上升;同时,二化螟幼虫危害能诱导水稻新释放2-heptanonol,(E)-linalooloxide和2种未知挥发物组分,稻纵卷叶螟为害则可诱导水稻产生2-heptanonol,(E)-linalooloxide,MeSA和β-caryophyllene4种新化合物。2种虫害稻株间的比较表明,β-caryophyllene和MeSA是稻纵卷叶螟危害水稻后诱导产生的特有挥发物组分,并且linalool,α-copaene,(+)-cedrol,n-heptadecane和n-nonadecane在二化螟为害苗与稻纵卷叶螟为害苗之间差异显著。这一结果也许可以解释2种害虫诱导水稻挥发物对天敌和害虫行为影响不同的原因。     

湖北江汉稻区优质香稻上二化螟的为害特性

研究了二化螟Chilo suppressalis(Walker)对优质香稻鄂香1号和武香988及优质常规中稻鄂中5号的田间为害特性。结果显示,1代二化螟危害造成的枯心苗数优质香稻略低于优质常规中稻。2代二化螟危害造成的枯孕穗和白穗优质香稻鄂香1号低于常规中稻,平均每15丛7.91株。田间剥查发现优质香稻中4~5龄2代二化螟所占百分比高于常规中稻,武香988中2代二化螟蛹所占比例高于常规中稻,达46.51%。3代二化螟量优质香稻低于常规中稻。结果说明香稻受二化螟的危害集中在2代,因而香稻二化螟的防治应注意消灭1代老熟幼虫和2代幼虫。     

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of ultraspiracle (USP) from the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis

cDNA for ultraspiracle (USP) from the lepidopteran rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis was cloned using PCR techniques. The deduced amino acid sequence of C. suppressalis USP (CsUSP) was very similar to those of other lepidopteran USPs, especially to the Manduca sexta USP-2 isoform. Northern hybridization analysis detected a 6.5-kb message in the epidermis, fat body, and midgut of wandering larvae. CsUSP mRNA expression in the epidermis varied little during the last larval instar. Gel mobility shift assays showed that in vitro translated C. suppressalis ecdysone receptor (CsEcR) and CsUSP proteins bound to the Pal1 or Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 ecdysone response element as a heterodimer. In a ligand-receptor binding assay, [(3)H]ponasterone A ([(3)H]PoA) did not bind to individual CsEcR or CsUSP protein, but bound strongly to the CsEcR/CsUSP complex. [(3)H]PoA binding to CsEcR/CsUSP complex was competed by 20-hydroxyecdysone and a non-steroidal ecdysteroid agonist, RH-5992, but not by cholesterol, indicating that compounds with molting hormone activity against C. suppressalis can bind specifically to the CsEcR/CsUSP complex.     

Gene cloning and expression of aminopeptidase N and cadherin from midgut of the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis

The rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis Walker is one of the most importantinsect pests on rice in Asia,north Africa and southern Europe.Transgenic Bt rice has beendeveloped in the laboratory with good resistance to this pest and other Lepidopteran insects,which will provide a possible alternative tool for this pest control.The full-length cDNAsencoding an aminopeptidase N (CsAPN) and a cadherin (CsCad) were cloned from C.suppressalis.CsAPN showed common features of,and high identities to,other insect AP...     

Gene cloning and expression of aminopeptidase N and cadherin from midgut of the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis

Abstract The rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker is one of the most important insect pests on rice in Asia, north Africa and southern Europe. Transgenic Bt rice has been developed in the laboratory with good resistance to this pest and other Lepidopteran insects, which will provide a possible alternative tool for this pest control. The full-length cDNAs encoding an aminopeptidase N (CsAPN) and a cadherin (CsCad) were cloned from C. suppressalis. CsAPN showed common features of, and high identities to, other insect APNs in its deduced amino acid sequence. Although a full-length cDNA encoding cadherin-like protein has been reported in GenBank, the newly isolated cadherin here (CsCad) showed some differences in its amino acid sequence, especially at the 7th cadherin repeat region (CR7), which indicated the newly isolated CsCad might be another allele. CsAPN and CsCad were successfully expressed in insect Tn cells, and the blot analysis showed these two proteins could bind Bt toxin Cry1Ab. The results will provide valuable information for the studies of toxin mode of action and the possible toxin resistance mechanisms in this pest.     

用正交试验法优选二化螟人工饲料配方

采用15因子2水平正交试验,优选出1种二化螟Chilo suppressalis(Walker)人工饲料配方,筛选出影响二化螟发育的5个关键因子,分别是稻茎粉、麦芽粉、稻糠粉、酵母粉和蔗糖。其中稻茎粉、麦芽粉、酵母粉和稻糠粉影响二化螟的幼虫成活率,蔗糖和麦芽粉影响二化螟的幼虫历期,稻茎粉影响二化螟的蛹重。     

杀虫单、氟虫腈及其混剂对二化螟的防治效果

20 0 0～ 2 0 0 1年在安徽省庐江县进行了 2次药剂及剂量对二化螟的防治和保苗效果试验。试验1表明 ,40 %氟虫腈·杀虫单WP 42 0g(每hm2 有效成分用量 )处理的虫口减退率为 94 7% ,与 5 40g,660g及 5 %氟虫腈 (锐劲特 )SC 3 0g处理相差不大。试验 2表明 ,3 0 %杀虫单·氟虫腈WP 2 70g喷雾即可达到96 2 %的防效 ,接近 3 60g和 5 %氟虫腈SC 2 2 5g的效果。 2次试验中各处理的保苗效果与虫口减退率基本一致。比较药剂成本 ,可见这 2种新型复配剂对二化螟具有良好的防治和保苗效果 ,且上述剂量是经济高效的。     

CO_2倍增和转Bt水稻对二化螟幼虫的生理影响

通过开顶式气室研究了CO2浓度倍增(750vs.375μL/L)对取食转Bt水稻及其对照亲本秀水11的二化螟Chilo suppressalis(Walker)幼虫体内代谢酶乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)和保护酶(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化物酶POD和过氧化氢酶CAT)活力的影响,以期明确该类害虫对大气CO2浓度升高及转Bt水稻的生理响应。研究结果表明:(1)AChE受CO2浓度水平影响显著,与对照CO2处理相比,高CO2条件下该酶活力显著降低;(2)高CO2水平及水稻中Bt毒素蛋白的存在均会导致二化螟幼虫体内POD活力显著降低,SOD初期活力显著升高,但不能维持较长时间,CAT活力表现为先升后降的特点;(3)当受到水稻品种、CO2浓度水平和取食时间的综合影响时,以上代谢酶和保护酶活力会发生显著变化。短时间内二化螟幼虫可通过体内以上生理代谢调节减缓受CO2浓度升高和水稻中Bt毒素蛋白的不利影响,但长时间环境胁迫下这种应对不利环境的响应机制将会失去作用,最终导致种群适合度的降低。     

Pharmacological characterization of a tyramine receptor from the southern cattle tick,Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) is a hematophagous external parasite that vectors the causative agents of bovine babesiosis or cattle tick fever, Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, and anaplasmosis, Anaplasma marginale. The southern cattle tick is a threat to the livestock industry in many locations throughout the world. Control methods include the use of chemical acaricides including amitraz, a formamidine insecticide, which is proposed to activate octopamine receptors. Previous studies have identified a putative octopamine receptor from the southern cattle tick in Australia and the Americas. Furthermore, this putative octopamine receptor could play a role in acaricide resistance to amitraz. Recently, sequence data indicated that this putative octopamine receptor is probably a type-1 tyramine receptor (TAR1). In this study, the putative TAR1 was heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells, and the expressed receptor resulted in a 39-fold higher potency for tyramine compared to octopamine. Furthermore, the expressed receptor was strongly antagonized by yohimbine and cyproheptadine, and mildly antagonized by mianserin and phentolamine. Tolazoline and naphazoline had agonistic or modulatory activity against the expressed receptor, as did the amitraz metabolite, BTS-27271; however, this was only observed in the presence of tyramine. The southern cattle tick's tyramine receptor may serve as a target for the development of anti-parasitic compounds, in addition to being a likely target of formamidine insecticides.