Analysis of species-specific function of neuropeptides in insects.

1.用抗抑胸肽（PTSP）单克隆抗体研究了PTSP相关肽在几种鳞翅目昆虫中枢神经系统（CNS）中的分布。在家蚕和其它鳞翅目昆虫的脑和心体中，不同分子的PRPs似乎占主导地位。在甘薯天蛾中，PRPs似乎是在蜕皮期间从epiproctodeal腺体中释放的，但该腺体分泌的时间在这些昆虫中是不同的。这些结果表明，PRP在鳞翅目昆虫中的分布和分泌是不同的。2.从家蚕中枢神经系统中克隆了corazonin受体（Crz）的cDNA。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明，这种受体主要表达在气管上腺，前丝腺，和中枢神经系统，但不在表皮，虽然表皮被认为是一个可能的目标组织corazonin在蝗虫。这一结果表明，不同昆虫种间corazonin受体的分布存在差异，从而导致其生理功能的不同。从蜜蜂工蜂脑中克隆了Crz基因。ApimeCrz cDNA编码一种新形式的corazonin，其Thr^4取代了[His^7]-corazonin。3.从家蚕脑和前胸神经节中分离到两种新的前胸抑制因子--肌抑制素（BMS）和肌抑制蛋白酰胺（BRFa），并分别克隆了编码这两种肽的cDNA。直接质谱和电生理分析表明，BRFa供应的前胸腺（PG）的表面通过神经元支配的前胸神经节在早期至中期的五龄。据我们所知，这项研究提供了第一个报告的肽控制蜕皮类固醇的直接神经支配。

1.Distribution of prothoracicostatic peptide (PTSP)-related peptides (PRPs) in the central nervous system (CNS) was investigated using the monoclonal antibodies against PTSP in several lepidopteran insects. In the brain and corpora-cardiaca, different molecules of PRPs seemed to be predominant between Bombyx mori and other lepidopteran insects. In the sweet potato hornworm, Agrius convoluvulli, PRPs seemed to be released from the epiproctodeal glands during molting period, but the timing of secretion from this gland was different among these insects. These results suggest that the distribution and secretion of PRP are different among the lepidopteran insects.2.The cDNA encoding the receptor for corazonin (Crz) was cloned from the CNS of B.mori. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis suggested that this receptor was predominantly expressed hi the epitracheal gland, anterior silkgland, and CNS, but not in the epidermis, although epidermis is thought to be a possible target tissue of corazonin in the locusta. This result suggests that the distribution of corazonin receptor is different among insect species, which causes the different physiological function. The Crz gene was cloned from brains of the honey bee workers (Apis mellifera). The ApimeCrz cDNA encodes a new form of corazonin displaying Thr^4 substitution of [His^7]-corazonin.3.New prothoracicostatic factors, Bombyx myosuppressin (BMS) and Bombyx FMRFamide (BRFa), were isolated and the cDNAs encoding these peptides cloned from the brains and prothoracic ganglion of B.mori, respectively. Direct mass spectrometory and electrophysiological analyses demonstrated that BRFa was supplied to the surface of the prothoracic gland (PG) via neurons innervating from the prothoracic ganglion during early to mid fifth instar. To our knowledge, this study provides the first report of peptides controlling ecdysteroidogenesis by direct innervation.