BIOCHEMISTRY OF EGG CHORION TANNING IN MOSQUITOES

苯醌介导的蛋白质交联反应是极其重要的。 昆虫纲内的生化事件。这些反应导致了 对角质层晒黑、黑色素包膜防御机制的研究 反应，伤口愈合，以及蛋壳的硬化 成群的昆虫。所有这些过程对人类的生存和发展至关重要 昆虫的繁殖成功。有一个明显的生化反应 这些生理事件之间的关系，以及增加我们的 对蚊子体内控制这些反应的机制的了解 病媒可能会对未来的负面努力产生重大影响 通过新的和创新的控制干预媒介的生存 战略。在此提出的研究的目的是澄清 成功形成和形成所需的生化过程 埃及伊蚊体内卵绒毛膜硬化。五花八门 生化和分子技术将被用来(L)评估 特定的酶在绒毛膜的形成和硬化中扮演的角色， (2)确定酪氨酸和儿茶酚胺在苯二酚中可能起的作用 蚊卵绒毛膜的交联化和黑化，(3)澄清 过氧化物酶介导的蛋白质交联机制 埃及伊蚊发育卵内的反应，以及(4)评估 多巴脱羧酶和过氧化物酶的合成 绒毛膜的形成及其遗传调控的研究 酵素。对绒毛膜的生理和生化有更深入的了解 在蚊子中的形成对于彻底理解 在这组重要的疾病媒介中的生殖过程。 虫卵长期暴露在恶劣环境中的存活 洪水蚊子所需要的条件是至关重要的 依赖于这个生化过程。因此，拟议的研究 将为更彻底地理解 绒毛膜形成和硬化的生物学事件和后果。 因为黑化的生物化学和对苯二酚的制革 鸡蛋绒毛膜的硬化很可能与 皮肤制革和寄生虫所需的生化事件 胶囊，更好地了解蚊子的卵绒毛膜制革 也可能提供对这些重要生理事件的洞察。

Quinone-mediated protein cross-linking reactions are extremely important biochemical events within the Class Insecta. These reactions contribute to mechanisms of cuticular tanning, melanotic encapsulation defense reactions, wound healing, and the hardening of the egg shell in numerous groups of insects. All of these processes are critical to the survival and reproductive success of insects. There is an obvious biochemical relationship between these physiological events, and increasing our understanding of the mechanisms controlling these reactions in mosquito vectors could have a significant impact on future efforts to negatively interfere with vector survival through new and innovative control strategies. The objective of the research proposed herein is to clarify the biochemical processes required for the successful formation and hardening of the egg chorion in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Various biochemical as well as molecular techniques will be used to (l) assess the roles specific enzymes play in the formation and hardening of the chorion, (2) determine the role tyrosine and catecholamines might play in quinone cross-linking and melanization of the mosquito egg chorion, (3) clarify the mechanisms involved in the peroxidase-mediated protein crosslinking reactions within developing eggs of A. aegypti, and (4) assess the site of synthesis of dopa decarboxylase and peroxidase as these relate to the formation of the chorion and to evaluate the genetic regulation of these enzymes. A better knowledge of the physiology and biochemistry of chorion formation in mosquitoes is critical to a thorough understanding of reproductive processes in this important group of disease vectors. Survival of eggs for extended periods of exposure to adverse environmental conditions, as is required for floodwater mosquitoes, is critically dependent on this biochemical process. Therefore, the proposed studies will provide essential information for a more thorough understanding of the biological events and consequences of chorion formation and hardening. Because the biochemistry of melanization and quinone tanning required for the hardening of the egg chorion likely shares similarities with the biochemical events necessary for cuticular tanning and parasite encapsulation, a better understanding of egg chorion tanning in mosquitoes also might provide insight into these important physiological events.