管氏肿腿蜂毒液M13家族金属蛋白酶基因的分子进化和功能分化机制

寄生蜂毒液蕴含种类丰富和功能多样的基因资源，但目前对寄生蜂毒液基因的起源进化和功能多样化机制知之甚少，且仅探明少数毒液蛋白的功能及作用机制。以管氏肿腿蜂为模式，申请者前期研究提示该蜂毒液2个M13家族金属蛋白酶（VnMP1和VnMP2）基因存在复制后的序列歧化和功能分化。本项目拟在此基础上，开展如下研究：（1）探究VnMP1和VnMP2基因进化为毒液基因的方式，分析它们序列歧化的进化途径和驱动力，探明其分子进化机制；（2）分析和比较VnMP1和VnMP2的基因表达模式、空间结构、酶学特性和生物学功能，阐明它们基因序列歧化与功能分化间的关系；（3）鉴定VnMP1和VnMP2的寄主作用靶标，揭示它们功能分化的作用机制。研究结果将揭示VnMP1和VnMP2的分子进化及功能分化机制，有助于揭示寄生蜂毒液基因及其功能多样性的形成机制，并丰富和发展对寄生蜂毒液蛋白功能及其调控寄主机理的认知。

Parasitoid venom contains a variable of proteins with diverse biological functions. They are valuable resources for discovering genes with promising applications. However, little is known about the origin, evolution and functional diversification of venom genes of parasitoids. And only very few of them have been functionally characterized, of which their action mechanisms are largely unknown. Using Scleroderma guani as a model, our preliminary findings suggest that two venom genes (named as VnMP1 and VnMP2) belonging to M13 metalloproteinase family of this parasitoid exist distinguish sequences after duplication, rustling in divergent functions. This proposal aims to confirm this hypothesis by carrying out the following investigations. Firstly, we will explore the way of VnMP1 and VnMP2 genes evolved into venom genes, and the evolutionary pathway and driving force behind their sequence divergence, which will uncover the molecular mechanisms in their evolution. Secondly, we will comparatively analyze the gene expression patterns, three dimensional structures, enzymatic properties and biological functions of VnMP1 and VnMP2, which will reveal the relationship between their gene sequence divergence and functional differentiation. Lastly, we will identify the host targets of VnMP1 and VnMP2, resulting in uncovering the action mechanisms associated with their functional divergence. The findings will reveal the mechanisms underlying molecular evolution and functional divergence of VnMP1 and VnMP2. This will not only facilitate to disclose the forming mechanisms of diversity in venom genes and their functions of parasitoids, but also shed light on functionality of the venom proteins of parasitoids and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of host by them.