Bark Beetle P450s, Pheromone Production and Resin Detoxification

松树皮甲虫可以在寄主树皮下茁壮成长，那里的环境对大多数其他昆虫都是有毒的，因为它们有酶可以将松脂毒素转化为危险较小的化学物质。这些“树脂解毒”反应被认为在某些情况下进化成了信息素生物合成反应。树皮甲虫依靠聚集信息素--它们释放到大气中的被其他树皮甲虫感知的化学物质--来协调新寄主树木的定居。信息素和树脂解毒产物是化学上相似的单萜。信息素的产生和树脂的解毒都需要细胞色素P450酶来化学改变单萜的结构。研究人员将研究参与这两个过程的P450酶。他们将结合分子克隆、酶分析和计算机模拟修改单萜的P450酶，以比较P450在不同树皮甲虫物种中的使用和进化情况。这些比较将使科学家开始了解甲虫与宿主相互作用的进化压力。这项工作将有助于通过提供数据来指导基于信息素的控制措施的发展，并通过为未来的管理策略确定新的特定物种的分子目标来帮助管理破坏性松皮甲虫的长期努力。该项目为研究生和本科生提供在生物化学、分子生物学和分子建模方面获得专业知识的机会。研究人员已证明致力于将代表性不足群体的成员纳入他们的研究团队，并将继续这样做。这项研究中描述的一些酶可能在食品/化妆品工业中用作生物技术工具来生产和/或修饰单萜。

Pine bark beetles can thrive beneath the bark of host trees, where the environment is poisonous to most other insects, because they have enzymes that can alter pine resin toxins into less dangerous chemicals. These "resin detoxification" reactions are thought to have evolved, in some cases, into pheromone biosynthetic reactions. Bark beetles rely on aggregation pheromones -chemicals that they release into the atmosphere that are perceived by other bark beetles- in order to coordinate colonization of new host trees. The pheromones and resin detoxification products are chemically similar monoterpenoids. Pheromone production and resin detoxification both require cytochrome P450 enzymes to chemically alter monoterpenoid structures.The researchers will investigate the P450 enzymes involved in these two processes. They will use a combination of molecular cloning, enzyme assays, and computer modeling of P450 enzymes that modify monoterpenes in order to compare how the P450s are used and have evolved in different bark beetle species. These comparisons will allow scientists to begin to understand the evolutionary pressures at work on the beetle-host interaction. This work will contribute to long term efforts to manage destructive pine bark beetles by providing data that will guide development of pheromone-based control measures, and by identifying new, species-specific molecular targets for future management strategies.This project provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to gain expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, and molecular modeling. The researchers have a proven commitment to including members of under-represented groups in their research teams, and will continue to do so. Some of the enzymes characterized in this study may be useful as biotechnological tools to produce and/or modify monoterpenes in the food/cosmetics industries.