果蝇变态过程中的细胞凋亡和细胞自噬

程序化细胞死亡(programmed cell death,PCD)分为I型PCD细胞凋亡(apoptosis)和II型PCD细胞自噬(autophagy)。果蝇等完全变态昆虫有2种类型的器官:即细胞内分裂器官(如脂肪体、表皮、唾液腺、中肠、马氏管等)和有丝分裂器官(复眼、翅膀、足、神经系统等)。在昆虫变态过程中,细胞内分裂器官进行器官重建,幼虫器官大量发生细胞凋亡和细胞自噬到最后完全消亡,同时成虫器官由干细胞从新生成;而有丝分裂器官则由幼虫器官直接发育为成虫器官。在果蝇等昆虫的变态过程中,细胞凋亡和细胞自噬在幼虫器官的死亡和成虫器官的生成中发挥了非常重要的作用。文章简要介绍细胞凋亡和细胞自噬在果蝇变态过程中的生理功能和分子调控机制。

Apoptosis and autophagy during Drosophila metamorphosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) includes type 1 PCD apoptosis and type Ⅱ PCD autophagy. Holometabolous insects, such as the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, have two types of organs: the endoreplicative organs (such as epidermis, salivary gland, midgut, fat body, malphigan and so on) and the mitotic organs (eyes, wings, legs, the nervous system and so on) . During insect metamorphosis, endoreplicative organs undergo a complicated 'remodeling' process. The larval organs undergo apoptosis, autophagy, and eventually histolysis, whereas the adult progenitor cells give rise to the adult organs. However, the mitotic adult organs are directly formed from the larval organs. Throughout the process of insect metamorphosis, apoptosis and autophagy play an essential role in the formation of adult organs. In this paper, we will briefly introduce the physiological functions and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy during insect metamorphosis.