性信息素合成激活肽（Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide，PBAN）调控性信息素的合成和释放。PBAN以Ca2+为第二信使进行信号转导，Ca2+与钙调蛋白（Calmodulin, CaM）联合作用激活钙调磷酸酶（Calcineurin，CaN），CaN通过去磷酸化作用激活下游靶蛋白进而调控性信息素的合成。目前对PBAN信号转导的中枢环节Ca2+/CaM / CaN信号通路，特别是CaN的作用机制的研究还未见报道。本项目以重要农业害虫棉铃虫为材料，拟采用RNAi、免疫沉淀、酶抑制剂分析、GC/MS等生化和分子生物学手段，就CaN的分子特性、对性信息素合成的影响及其调控的下游靶标分子进行深入研究。该研究不仅对阐明性信息素合成的分子机制、理解昆虫的生长发育具有重要的科学意义，而且还可为发现害虫防治新靶标，开辟害虫调控新领域提供科学依据。

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide(PBAN) regulates the synthesis and release of insect sex pheromone by binding to its receptor and activating Ca2+ as the secondary messenger. Ca2+ interacts with Ca2+ binding protein calmodulin (CaM) and activates a calcium-dependent serine-threonine phosphatase calcineurin(CaN) which inturn regulates a set of uncharacterized target proteins leading to the sex pheromone synthesis.However the role of Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway,especially the function of CaN, in PBAN mediated sex pheromone synthesis, still remains unelusidated.In this proposed study, the roles of CaN in sex pheromone synthesis, especially CaN-regulated genes and proteins will be studied using RNAi,immunoprecipitation,inhibitor analysis and GC/MS methods in Helicoverpa armigera. The outcome ofthis study will provide a foundation for deciphering the molecular mechanism of sex pheromone synthesis,understanding the growth and development, and controling insect pests.