Ecdysteroid regulation of hydrocarbon biosynthesis

碳氢化合物生物合成的蜕皮激素调节

• 批准号: 0317022
• 负责人: Gary Blomquist
• 金额: $ 51.04万
• 依托单位: Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0317022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ecdysteroid; regulation; hydrocarbon; biosynthesis

The surface of all insects is covered by a thin layer of very long-chain hydrocarbons that serve the critical function of restricting water loss to prevent a lethal rate of desiccation. Many species also use hydrocarbons in chemical communication. Despite their importance for an insect's survival and absence among most other animals, there have been few studies aimed at understanding the biochemistry and molecular biology of hydrocarbon formation. A clear understanding of this critical process in insects is also needed to design inhibitors of key steps that could function in novel and environmentally sound insect control techniques. The housefly, Musca domestica, is an excellent model insect with which to study the biochemistry and molecular biology of hydrocarbon formation. Ovarian produced ecdysteroids regulate hydrocarbon production, which results in the female producing (Z)-9-tricosene and a series of methyl-branched hydrocarbons, all of which function in the sex pheromone.The work proposed herein is designed to gain an understanding of a critical process in hydrocarbon formation, the elongation of 16 and 18 carbon fatty acids to the very-long chain 24-36 carbon fatty acids that are the immediate precursors to hydrocarbons. Specifically, the objectives are to: (1) Isolate, clone and sequence key enzymes involved in hydrocarbon synthesis, (2) Determine the ecdysteroid regulation of these enzymes at the molecular level and (3) Assay the key enzymes. In addition to training post-doctoral fellows and graduate students, undergraduates also will be trained in aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology. The proposed work will lead to a better understanding of critical processes in insects that could lead to new targets for future pest control strategies.

所有昆虫的表面都覆盖着一层薄薄的长链烃，这层烃起着限制水分流失的关键作用，以防止致命的干燥速度。 许多物种也使用碳氢化合物进行化学通讯。尽管它们对昆虫的生存和其他大多数动物的缺席很重要，但很少有旨在了解碳氢化合物形成的生物化学和分子生物学的研究。对昆虫中这一关键过程的清楚理解也是设计关键步骤的抑制剂所必需的，这些抑制剂可以在新颖的和环境友好的昆虫控制技术中发挥作用。家蝇是研究油气形成生物化学和分子生物学的理想模式昆虫。卵巢产生的蜕皮类固醇调节烃类的产生，这导致雌性产生（Z）-9-三萜和一系列甲基支链烃，所有这些都在性信息素中起作用。将16和18碳脂肪酸延长为非常长链的24-36碳脂肪酸，其是烃的直接前体。具体而言，目标是：（1）分离、克隆和测序参与碳氢化合物合成的关键酶，（2）在分子水平上确定这些酶的蜕皮激素调节，以及（3）测定关键酶。除了培养博士后研究员和研究生外，本科生也将接受生物化学和分子生物学方面的培训。拟议的工作将导致更好地了解昆虫的关键过程，可能导致未来害虫控制战略的新目标。