Collaborative Research on The Molecular Identification and Cellular Location of Bursicon, The Insect Cuticle Sclerotizing Hormone

昆虫神经激素囊子是昆虫外角质层形成所必需的。 虽然早在1935年就被发现，但对bursicon及其作用的了解仍然很少。这个合作项目的主要目的是鉴定这种普遍存在的昆虫神经激素的基因编码序列。根据蟑螂囊体的部分氨基酸序列设计简并引物，通过反转录和PCR技术从信使RNA中扩增出囊体cDNA。此外，现有的其他昆虫cDNA文库也将用于PCR探针的筛选。 了解囊子的完整序列将有助于识别囊子的活性部位及其受体。因为昆虫的骨架是在外部“磨损”的，所以它们在生长或变形时必须定期脱落。 在每一个蜕皮周期，新的角质层必须合成。 荷尔蒙囊激素，一旦旧的角质层脱落，就会触发新角质层的硬化。 表皮硬化不仅提供了保护，也为肌肉附着提供了一个框架，使运动成为可能。 显然，对囊体释放或其作用的干扰将导致动物死亡。 本研究将为通过破坏囊体的功能来进行害虫生物防治的新方法提供依据。

The insect neurohormone bursicon is essential for formation of the insecthard outer cuticle. Although discovered in 1935, bursicon and its actionhave remained poorly understood. The primary aim of this collaborative project is thecharacterization of the gene sequence coding for this ubiquitous insectneurohormone. Degenerate primers derived from several partial amino acidsequences of cockroach bursicon will be used to amplify bursicon cDNA frommessenger RNA by reverse transcription and PCR. In addition, existing cDNAlibraries from other insects will be used for screening with probes derivedfrom PCR. Knowledge of the full sequence of bursicon will facilitateidentification of the bursicon active site and its receptor.Because insects 'wear' their skeletons on the outside, they mustperiodically shed them as they grow or metamorphose. During each moltcycle, new cuticle must be synthesized. The hormone bursicon, triggers thehardening of the new cuticle once the old cuticle has been shed. Cuticularhardening provides not only protection, but also a framework for muscleattachment enabling locomotion. Clearly, interference with bursiconrelease or its actions will result in the death of the animal. Thisinvestigation will provide a basis for new methods of biological pestmanagement by disrupting the function of bursicon.