斜纹夜蛾气味结合蛋白和醛氧化酶调控雌虫生殖的分子机制

昆虫气味结合蛋白（OBP）和醛氧化酶（AOX）在其嗅觉感受和识别中具有重要功能，但是它们在生殖方面的研究相对较少。本项目拟以“一雌多雄”制交配的斜纹夜蛾为对象，基于醛的交配转移、雄虫生殖系统高表达的OBP基因和雌虫生殖系统高表达的AOX基因，通过生殖系统醛类化合物的定性和定量分析、生殖组织蛋白质组学测序、注射或交配雌虫的行为学测定，结合体内和体外功能研究阐明雄虫生殖系统OBP和醛的交配转移模式及其转移量、OBP在AOX降解醛中的作用、交配雌虫生殖系统AOX基因表达与醛释放量的关系以及注射或转移至雌虫的OBP和醛与雌虫生殖系统AOX的互作机制，综合探讨“OBP-醛-AOX”互作对交配雌虫产卵和再交配行为的影响。研究结果不仅可以明确“OBP-醛-AOX”调控雌虫生殖的分子机制，还可弥补鳞翅目昆虫化感基因在非嗅觉方面的功能缺失，同时为基于两性交配的行为调控剂（如抑性欲素）的研发提供理论依据。

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and aldehyde oxidases (AOXs) are of vital importance for insect olfaction, but little is known about their reproductive functions. Our previous studies found that in a polyandrous species Spodoptera litura, the males transferred aldehydes to females' reproductive system during copulation. Expression profile analysis revealed that some OBP genes were highly expressed in male reproductive system and several AOX genes were abundant in female reproductive system. In the current study, we will conduct the qualitative and quantitative analyses of aldehydes and data-independent acquisition proteomics of reproductive tissues as well as behavioral assays of injected or mated females. With the combination of experimental results in vivo and in vitro, our study will show the transfer patterns and amounts of OBPs and aldehydes predominantly presented in male reproductive system, OBP functional roles in protecting aldehydes from AOX degradation, the relationships between AOX expression and aldehyde emission, and the interactions of injected or transferred OBPs and aldehydes with AOXs highly expressed in female reproductive system. The results will address the issue that OBP-aldehyde-AOX interactions regulate fecundity and re-mating of mated S. litura females. Together, our study will provide evidence for elucidating OBP-aldehyde-AOX interactions to the molecular mechanisms regulating reproductive behaviors of females, and greatly complements functional data of Lepidoptera chemosensory genes in non-olfactory tissues. Moreover, this study will facilitate the design and development of insect behavior regulators like anti-aphrodisiac pheromones.