Insect cuticle lipid formation and the impact of cuticle lipids on the ecological adaptability

昆虫角质层脂质的形成及其对生态适应性的影响

• 批准号: 392398741
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Gerd Jürgens, since 5/2024
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2017-12-31 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/392398741?language=en
• 关键词: Insect; cuticle; lipid; formation; impact

Insect cuticle lipids provide an effective two-sided barrier against dehydration and penetration of xenobiotics ensuring survival under potentially hostile environmental conditions such as high temperature and low humidity. Consequentially, they have a strong impact on insect ecological adaptability. However, research on molecular and genetic aspects of insect cuticle lipid biology is scarce to date. Ultimately, this negligence seriously restricts the development of green ecological control technologies based on cuticle lipids biology. In this proposal, we intend to use the agricultural pest Locusta migratoria (migratory locust) and the model insect Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) to undertake the following fundamental approaches: 1) studying the regional distribution characteristics and composition differences of insect cuticle lipids by using dye penetration assays and applying gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); 2) revealing the function of genes coding for key enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis using locust RNAi and fly genetics (mutations, RNAi and UAS-Gal4 expression system); 3) combining genetics, histo-chemical staining, microscopic and ultra-structural technologies to analyze the molecular mechanisms of cuticle lipid distribution and the formation of cuticular lipid-transporting pore canals; 4) analyzing the mechanisms of how key genes affect insect ecological adaptability under different ecological conditions. In summary, through these four approaches, we will learn about the molecular mechanisms of cuticle lipid biosynthesis and transport, and understand how the distribution and composition of cuticle lipids together affect insect ecological adaptability. Eventually, our results will contribute to the discovery of new targets for pest control and to the development of a new pest control strategy against the formation and function of cuticle lipids.

昆虫角质层脂质提供了有效的两侧屏障，防止脱水和外源物质渗透，确保昆虫在高温和低湿等潜在恶劣环境条件下生存。因此，它们对昆虫的生态适应性有很大影响。然而，迄今为止，对昆虫角质层脂质生物学的分子和遗传方面的研究还很少。最终，这种疏忽严重制约了基于角质层脂质生物学的绿色生态控制技术的发展。在本提案中，我们拟利用农业害虫Locusta migratoria（飞蝗）和模式昆虫Drosophila melanogaster（果蝇）进行以下基本研究：1）通过染料渗透分析和气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）研究昆虫角质层脂质的区域分布特征和组成差异； 2) 利用蝗虫RNAi和果蝇遗传学（突变、RNAi和UAS-Gal4表达系统）揭示参与脂质生物合成的关键酶编码基因的功能； 3）结合遗传学、组织化学染色、显微和超微结构技术，分析角质层脂质分布和角质层脂质运输孔道形成的分子机制； 4）分析不同生态条件下关键基因影响昆虫生态适应性的机制。综上所述，通过这四种途径，我们将了解角质层脂质生物合成和运输的分子机制，了解角质层脂质的分布和组成如何共同影响昆虫的生态适应性。最终，我们的结果将有助于发现害虫防治的新靶点，并有助于开发针对角质层脂质形成和功能的新害虫防治策略。