CAA: The Evolution of Sequestration in Insects: Biochemistry in an Evolutionary Context

一个多世纪以来，一些昆虫利用从寄主植物中获得的化合物来保护自己免受天敌的侵害，这一能力一直吸引着生物学家。然而，对于使只有少数物种能够储存这些化合物的生化机制，人们所知相对较少。鲍尔斯博士将使用DNA测序来确定一组蝴蝶之间的进化关系，这些蝴蝶有可以储存有毒化合物环烯醚萜苷的物种，也有不能储存有毒化合物环烯醚萜苷的物种。这种系统发育将被用来研究寄主植物利用模式的进化，以及使某些物种能够储存这些化合物的生化机制的进化。这项研究的结果将提供一个系统发育的框架，以检查昆虫的不适口性的进化。鲍尔斯博士将把今年所学到的技术应用到她未来研究的许多方面，以及她对进化生态学学生的培训中。了解昆虫如何应对它们在宿主植物中遇到的化合物的机制，也可以帮助我们了解昆虫如何应对化学化合物，如杀虫剂和除草剂，这些化合物最近已成为它们环境的一部分。

The ability of a few insect species to use chemical compounds acquired from their host plants to defend themselves against their own predators, has fascinated biologists for over a century. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the biochemical mechanisms that enable only a few species to store these compounds. Dr. Bowers will use DNA sequencing to determine the evolutionary relationships among a group of butterflies which has species that can store toxic compounds, iridoid glycosides, and species that cannot. This phylogeny will then be used to examine the evolution of hostplant use patterns in this insect group and the evolution of the biochemical mechanisms enabling some species to store these compounds. The results of this research will provide a phylogenetic framework in which to examine the evolution of unpalatability in insects. Dr. Bowers will apply the techniques learned during this year to many aspects of her future research and her training of students in evolutionary ecology. Understanding the mechanisms that enable insects to cope with chemical compounds they encounter in their hostplants may also inform our understanding of how insects cope with chemical compounds, such as pesticides and herbicides, that have more recently become a part of their environment.