水是生物生存发展的基本要素，生物体中的水通道蛋白（AQPs）不仅可以转运水分，而且还可传输小分子溶质。每种生物都拥有多种功能不同的水通道蛋白，这些蛋白质在生物环境适应中起着重要作用。二化螟是一种重要的水稻害虫，为兼性滞育并对环境具有很强的适应性,而水通道蛋白在水稻二化螟滞育和对环境适应中起着非常重要的作用。本项目利用RACE方法克隆水稻二化螟体内的水通道蛋白基因；利用生物信息学方法对所获得的水通道蛋白基因序列进行分析，预测其结构特征；通过非洲爪蟾卵细胞体系研究各种水通道蛋白的功能；运用实时定量和蛋白免疫印迹法从mRNA和蛋白质水平研究水通道蛋白在水稻二化螟不同发育阶段和不同组织部位的表达模式以及在水稻二化螟滞育和环境适应中的作用。显然，本项目研究不但对进一步了解昆虫水通道蛋白具有重要的科学价值，而且对深入了解水稻二化螟的环境适应性和爆发成灾机理具有重要意义。

Water is one of the most important variables that potentially dictate the distribution and abundance of insects. Aquaporins (AQPs) transport not only water but also other small molecules. Insects have a number of aquaporins with each performing different functions. Moreover, some studies have suggested that aquaporins played some essential roles in insects to adapt their environmental conditions. The striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, entered faculative diapause as larvae, one of the most important rice pests in China, has evolved strong ability to resist environmental adversities (particularly temperature stress), which likely is intimately related to its aquaporins. And AQPs play an important role in the diapause and the environmental adaption of C. suppressalis. The objectives of the research proposal are 1) to determine the number of aquaporins and their sequences in C. suppressalis by the RACE; 2) to establish the structural characteristics of C. suppressalis aquaporins through biological information; 3) to further elucidate the specific functions of the individual aquaporins using the Xenopus oocyte swelling assay system; and 4) to assess respectively the spatial and temporal profiles of aquaporins (various tissues or organs, different developmental stages and different situations through Real-time PCR and Western blot. By performing the planned research, we are confident for being not only able to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the scientific roles of insect AQPs, but also provide deep insight towards the environmental adaption and outbreak mechanisms of C. suppressalis.