Neuropeptide roles in regulating physiology and behaviour.

农业和林业中化学杀虫剂的使用一直难以精确控制，因此，我们环境中的水、粮食作物和其他有益生物正在受到污染。因此，消费者越来越多地寻求无农药的“有机”产品，但其中许多产品仅限于社区内，购买成本更高。此外，空气和水传播的杀虫剂可以传播到指定为有机的田间地区。广谱杀虫剂除了杀死目标害虫外，还杀死非目标生物。由于这些化学品可能对人类健康产生不利影响，过去几十年来限制其在林业和农业中使用的压力越来越大。然而，有效的替代办法仍然很少。我们的研究一直专注于识别昆虫神经系统中的调节蛋白，这些蛋白可以抑制昆虫的蜕皮（经历变态）或改变昆虫的食物寻求（运动）或进食行为。我们的研究在神经系统内的一种蛋白质受体（称为allatostatin受体）方面处于领先地位。有两种不同类型的allatostatin受体：一种控制变态所需的激素，另一种调节运动和进食。在研究果蝇的过程中，我们了解到，产生变态所需的保幼激素的途径相对于其他昆虫来说是复杂的。通过了解这一途径中酶的调节，以及这些受体如何工作，通过识别它们控制的生化途径，我们将进一步了解昆虫特异性目标，以实现对农业食品和林业重要的环境友好干预。

The application of chemical insecticides in agriculture and forestry has always been difficult to precisely control and, as a consequence, water, food crops and other beneficial organisms in our environment are being contaminated. As a consequence, consumers are increasingly looking towards pesticide-free 'organic' produce, but many of these products are limited within communities and more expensive to purchase. Also, air and water-borne insecticides can spread into field areas designated as organic. Wide-spectrum insecticides also kill non-target organisms in addition to the target pest insect. Because these chemicals can adversely affect human health, there has been increasing pressure over past decades to restrict their use in forestry and agriculture. However, effective alternatives remain scarce. Our research has been focused on identifying regulatory proteins within the insect nervous system that can inhibit the insects' ability to molt (undergo metamorphosis) or change the insects' food seeking (locomotion) or feeding behaviour. Our research has led the field in focusing on a protein receptor within the nervous system known as the allatostatin receptor. There are two different types of allatostatin receptors: one type controls the hormones that are required for metamorphosis and the other regulates locomotion and feeding. In studying the fruitfly we have learned that the pathway that creates juvenile hormones, required for metamorphosis, is complex relative to other insects. By understanding the regulation of the enzymes within this pathway,and how these receptors work, through identification of the biochemical pathways that they control, we will provide further insights into insect-specific targets for environmentally-friendly intervention important to agri-food and forestry.