Psi基因在美国白蛾性别决定通路中的功能研究

性别决定是阶梯式调控过程，性别决定基因突变会影响物种性比甚至导致不育，具有应用于害虫防治的潜力。模式昆虫果蝇和家蚕性别决定相关研究较多，目前美国白蛾性别决定机制的研究未见报道。申请人以家蚕性别决定为基础，通过分析性别特异性剪接模式，发现Dsx，Psi、Tra2和Ix等在美国白蛾中存在可变剪接体。研究证明Psi基因参与鳞翅目家蚕性别决定，因此对美国白蛾Psi基因的功能解析可能是揭示性别决定机制的关键。申请人前期研究证明CRISPR/Cas9技术可以对美国白蛾进行高效基因组编辑，并且已获得基因组数据。因此，本项目拟采用CRISPR/Cas9技术和分子生物学方法，从昆虫整体和细胞层面研究探索Psi基因参与性别决定作用机理和分子机制，进一步阐明Psi基因参与美国白蛾的性别决定的作用机制，为美国白蛾防治提供靶标基因，为鳞翅目昆虫性别决定机制阐释提供新的思路，为发展害虫遗传防治理论提供有效途径。

The sexual dimorphism is regulated by sex determination cascade. Loss-of function mutants lead to abnormal development even sterility which offers potential alternatives for the genetic management of insect pests. Studies on sex determination of Drosophila and Bombyx mori were well understood, however, there is no information on Hyphantria cunea, a key quarantine forest pest. Based on previous research in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, sex determination genes , Dsx, Psi, Ix and Tra2 have alternative splicing variants. And, Psi was involved in silkworm sex determination. We proposed that functional exploration of Psi will provide insight into the sex determination system in H. cunea. Our previous study demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 system could generate a comprehensive set of knockout mutations and we have obtained the genome data of H. cunea. In this study, H. cunea Psi (HcPsi) will be functional characterized comprehensively combining functional genomic tools with cellular biology techniques. Results generated from this proposed research will advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of HcPsi on sex determination. Further, it will also provide targets genes for the genetic controls of this devastating forest pest.