Evolutionary Genomics of Moth Sex Pheromone Desaturases

标题：飞蛾性信息素去饱和酶的进化基因组学研究将对真核生物中独特的多基因去饱和酶基因家族进行研究，因为它们只存在于飞蛾性信息素腺体中。这些基因是信息素成分生物合成的关键，因此，参与产生交配通信系统的变化。因此，信息素混合物的进化可能是这些蛾类物种形成过程中的关键因素。本项目通过在基因组水平上观察这些基因的组织和多样化，将以往对这些基因特征的研究推向了一个新的方向。对欧洲玉米螟（ECB）蛾中发现的4种不同的去饱和酶基因的基因组DNA进行了深入分析，发现至少存在4种用于信息素生物合成的主要去饱和酶变体。在这些变异中发现了一些有趣的古代转座元件，它们可以通过插入或靠近启动子元件或其他调控元件来改变基因表达。这些元素可以提供关于这些去饱和酶基因如何在飞蛾中复制和进化的重要信息。就在最近，从康奈尔实验室获得的ECB样本生成并公开了ECB细菌人工染色体（BAC）库。它代表了一个巨大的资源，因为它允许分析欧洲央行基因组的非常大的片段。这些大片段将用于生成欧洲央行去饱和酶基因的物理图谱。这些信息将揭示去饱和酶基因是否聚类，存在多少聚类，以及基因和聚类如何在欧洲央行基因组的大片段中与其他基因和遗传元素相关联。更广泛的影响：Roelofs实验室在培养博士后和博士生方面有着悠久的历史。此外，康奈尔大学和霍巴特学院的本科生也被纳入该项目，进行暑期和自主学习研究。学生将参与计划项目的研究，并获得有关分子技术的宝贵培训。关于去饱和酶项目的国际合作也将继续进行，包括一位来自中国的访问科学家目前在Roelofs实验室接受鉴定去饱和酶基因的分子技术培训。除了在著名的科学期刊上发表研究结果外，研究人员还积极地在专业会议、小学和中学班级以及许多地方和立法巡回团体上介绍他们的工作。

Roelofs, Wendell L.Title: Evolutionary Genomics of Moth Sex Pheromone Desaturases Research will be conducted on a multigene family of desaturase genes unique among eukaryotes because they are found only in moth sex-pheromone glands. These genes are key to the biosynthesis of pheromone components, and, thus, are involved in generating changes in the mating communication system. Evolution of the pheromone blends, therefore, can be a key factor in the speciation process in these moth species. This project takes the previous studies on the characterization of these genes in a new direction by looking at the organization and diversification of the genes at the genomic level. An in-depth analysis of genomic DNA for the 4 different desaturase genes found in the European corn borer (ECB) moth has revealed the presence of at least 4 variants of the main desaturase used for pheromone biosynthesis. Some interesting ancient transposable elements were found in these variants that can alter gene expression by inserting into or close to promoter elements or other regulatory elements. These elements could provide important information on how these desaturase genes were duplicated and evolved in moths. Just recently an ECB bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was generated and made public from ECB specimen obtained from the Cornell laboratory. It represents a tremendous resource because it allows for the analysis of very large segments of the ECB genome. These large segments will be used to generate a physical map of desaturase genes in the ECB. This information will reveal if the desaturase genes are clustered, how many clusters exist, and how both genes and clusters are organized across large segments of the ECB genome in relation to other genes and genetic elements. Broader Impacts: The Roelofs laboratory has a long history of training post-doctoral fellows and Ph. D. students. Also, undergraduate students from Cornell University and Hobart College have been incorporated into the project to conduct summer and independent study research. Students contribute to the research of the proposed project and gain valuable training on the molecular techniques involved. International collaborative efforts on the desaturase project also will continue, including a visiting scientist from China now present in the Roelofs lab for training on molecular techniques to identify desaturase genes. The investigators are active in presenting the work at professional meetings, to primary and secondary school classes, and to many local and legislative touring groups, in addition to publishing the results in prestigious scientific journals.