Steroidogenic Neuropeptides in Mosquitoes

蚊子和任何活着的动物一样，会合成并释放一种叫做激素的化学分子。这些激素控制着昆虫的重要生命过程，如蜕皮、变态和繁殖。有些激素是由昆虫大脑中的细胞产生的，这些激素被称为神经激素。这些神经激素通常控制非脑激素的释放。该项目旨在识别特定的神经激素，这些神经激素会导致特定的非脑激素的合成和释放。这种非脑激素被称为蜕皮激素，负责蚊子的蜕皮和繁殖。本项目的目的是纯化神经激素并设计实验，以确定神经激素如何控制蜕皮激素的合成和释放。这些研究的结果将增加对神经激素如何控制蚊子发育和繁殖的认识。此外，这些信息对于理解神经激素在其他动物中的作用也很有用。最后，这些研究可以为开发更有效的控制蚊子种群的方法提供信息。

Mosquitoes, like any living animal, synthesize and release chemical molecules called hormones. These hormones control important life processes in the insect such as molting, metamorphosis and reproduction. Some hormones are made by cells in the brain of the insect and these hormones are called neurohormones. These neurohormones usually control the release of non-brain hormones. This project is designed to identify specific neurohormones which act to cause the synthesis and release of a specific non-brain hormone. The non-brain hormone, called ecdysone, is responsible for initiating molting and reproduction in mosquitoes. The goal of this project is to purify the neurohormone and design experiments to determine how the neurohormone can control the synthesis and release of ecdysone. The results of these studies will increase knowledge of how neurohormones control development and reproduction in mosquitoes. Furthermore, this information can be useful in understanding the role of neurohormones in other animals. Finally, these studies could provide information leading to the development of more effective means of controlling mosquito populations.