Regulation of sex pheromone biosynthesis in tenebrio molitor females

黄粉虫雌性性信息素生物合成的调控

• 批准号: 121616-2006
• 负责人: Vanderwel, Désirée
• 金额: $ 1.47万
• 依托单位: University of Winnipeg
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2006-01-01 至 2007-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=340372
• 关键词: Regulation; sex; pheromone; biosynthesis; tenebrio

Beetles effect a staggering economic and social impact on humankind through the destruction of field crops, stored products, and forests.  Conversely, many beetles are beneficial, acting as predators of insect pests and as biological control agents for weeds.  Knowledge gained in the journey to understand coleopteran biochemistry could be exploited to control pest species, or aid in the management of beneficial species.  The biosynthetic pathways used by beetles to produce their pheromones, and the mechanisms by which these pathways are regulated, have been the targets of much interest.  However, most studies have focused on the biochemistry of aggregation pheromone production.  We propose to examine the biochemistry of sex pheromone production in a model system, the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor.  Early studies by other workers established that the production of the female-produced sex pheromone, 4-methylnonanol, is regulated by Juvenile Hormone (JH).  We have elucidated the biosynthetic route to the pheromone, confirmed that 4-methylnonanol production is regulated by JH, and identified one enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of 4-metnhylnonanol that is regulated by JH.  We also discovered that mating induces a temporary decrease in the level of sex pheromone in the female, due at least in part to an inhibition of sex pheromone biosynthesis.  In this proposal, we plan to determine the mechanisms by which JH and mating exert their effects on pheromone levels in female T. molitor.  This information will not only increase our basic knowledge of insect metabolism but, in the long term, an enhanced understanding of the factors that stimulate or inhibit pheromone production might be of practical value in our attempts to develop new strategies for the manipulation of pest populations.

甲虫通过破坏田间作物、储藏产品和森林，对人类产生了惊人的经济和社会影响。相反，许多甲虫是有益的，它们是害虫的捕食者和杂草的生物控制剂。在了解鞘翅目生物化学的过程中获得的知识可以用来控制有害物种，或帮助管理有益物种。甲虫用来产生信息素的生物合成途径，以及这些途径被调节的机制，一直是人们非常感兴趣的目标。然而，大多数研究都集中在聚集信息素产生的生物化学上。我们建议在一个模型系统中研究性信息素产生的生物化学，黄粉虫甲虫，tenbrio molitor。其他工作者的早期研究证实，雌性产生的性信息素，4-甲基壬醇，是由幼年激素（JH）调节的。我们已经阐明了信息素的生物合成途径，证实了4-甲基壬醇的产生受JH的调控，并鉴定了一种参与4-甲基壬醇生物合成的酶受JH的调控。我们还发现，交配会导致雌性体内性信息素水平暂时下降，至少部分原因是性信息素生物合成受到抑制。在本研究中，我们计划确定JH和交配对雌性野田鼠信息素水平的影响机制。这些信息不仅将增加我们对昆虫代谢的基本知识，而且从长远来看，对刺激或抑制信息素产生的因素的进一步了解可能对我们尝试制定控制害虫种群的新策略具有实用价值。