Hormonal Controls of Moth Sex Pheromone Production

神经肽领域在过去已经有了爆炸性的活动 由于隔离技术的进步， 用于结构表征的仪器。 尽管许多 昆虫神经肽最近已经被表征， 真实的缺乏关于它们的受体和作用方式的信息。 在研究一种调节信息素的脑神经肽时 Roelofs博士发现， 囊体对于这种 神经肽 他现在已经从粘液囊中分离出一种因子， 当脑神经肽存在时释放， 反过来，参与打开信息素的生产。 一个独特 有机会确定这些肽在 信息素的产生 这不仅为 比较其他昆虫物种的激素控制， 这对内分泌系统如何进化的影响，但也将 允许识别编码这些激素的特定基因 可能用于新昆虫的转基因操作 控制程序。//

The field of neuropeptides has exploded with activity in the past few years because of advances in isolation techniques and instrumentatation for structural characterization. Although many insect neuropeptides have recently been characterized there is a real paucity of information on their receptors and mode of action. In researching a brain neuropeptide that regulates pheromone production in redbanded leafroller moths, Dr. Roelofs discovered that the corpus bursae was essential for activity of this neuropeptide. He now has isolated a factor from the bursa that is released when the brain neuropeptide is present and this factor, in turn, is involved in turning on pheromone production. A unique opportunity is presented to define the role of these peptides in pheromone production. This not only provides a basis for comparison of hormonal controls in other insect species, with implications on how this endocrine system evolved, but also will allow the identification of specific genes encoding these hormones for possible use in transgenic manipulations for novel insect control programs.//