Bark Beetle P450s, Pheromone Production and Resin Detoxification

松树甲虫可以在宿主树的树皮下茁壮成长，那里的环境对大多数其他昆虫都是有毒的，因为它们有酶可以将松树树脂毒素转化为危险性较低的化学物质。 这些“树脂解毒”反应被认为已经进化，在某些情况下，进入信息素生物合成反应。 树皮甲虫依靠聚集信息素--它们释放到大气中被其他树皮甲虫感知的化学物质--来协调新宿主树木的殖民化。 信息素和树脂解毒产物是化学上类似的单萜类化合物。 信息素的产生和树脂的解毒都需要细胞色素P450酶来化学改变单萜类化合物的结构。研究人员将研究参与这两个过程的P450酶。 他们将使用分子克隆，酶测定和P450酶的计算机建模的组合来修饰单萜，以比较P450如何在不同的树皮甲虫物种中使用和进化。 这些比较将使科学家们开始了解甲虫与宿主相互作用的进化压力。 这项工作将有助于长期的努力，以管理破坏性的松树树皮甲虫通过提供数据，将指导信息素为基础的控制措施的发展，并通过确定新的，物种特异性的分子靶标为未来的管理strategies.This project provides opportunities for students and universal students to gain expertise in biochemistry，molecular biology，and molecular modeling.研究人员已经证明他们致力于将代表性不足的群体成员纳入他们的研究团队，并将继续这样做。在这项研究中的一些酶的特点可能是有用的生物技术工具，以生产和/或修改单萜在食品/化妆品行业。

Pine bark beetles can thrive beneath the bark of host trees, where the environment is poisonous to most other insects, because they have enzymes that can alter pine resin toxins into less dangerous chemicals. These "resin detoxification" reactions are thought to have evolved, in some cases, into pheromone biosynthetic reactions. Bark beetles rely on aggregation pheromones -chemicals that they release into the atmosphere that are perceived by other bark beetles- in order to coordinate colonization of new host trees. The pheromones and resin detoxification products are chemically similar monoterpenoids. Pheromone production and resin detoxification both require cytochrome P450 enzymes to chemically alter monoterpenoid structures.The researchers will investigate the P450 enzymes involved in these two processes. They will use a combination of molecular cloning, enzyme assays, and computer modeling of P450 enzymes that modify monoterpenes in order to compare how the P450s are used and have evolved in different bark beetle species. These comparisons will allow scientists to begin to understand the evolutionary pressures at work on the beetle-host interaction. This work will contribute to long term efforts to manage destructive pine bark beetles by providing data that will guide development of pheromone-based control measures, and by identifying new, species-specific molecular targets for future management strategies.This project provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to gain expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, and molecular modeling. The researchers have a proven commitment to including members of under-represented groups in their research teams, and will continue to do so. Some of the enzymes characterized in this study may be useful as biotechnological tools to produce and/or modify monoterpenes in the food/cosmetics industries.