Insect sex-pheromone signals mediated by specific combinations of olfactory receptors

We describe two male-specific olfactory receptors (ORs) in the silk moth, Bombyx mori, that are mutually exclusively expressed in a pair of adjacent pheromone-sensitive neurons of male antennae: One is specifically tuned to bombykol, the sex pheromone, and the other to bombykal, its oxidized form. Both pheromone ORs are coexpressed with an OR from the highly conserved insect OR subfamily. This coexpression promotes the functional expression of pheromone receptors and confers ligand-stimulated nonselective cation channel activity. The same effects were also observed for general ORs. Both odorant and pheromone signaling pathways are mediated by means of a common mechanism in insects.     

斜纹夜蛾信息素结合蛋白3基因的分子鉴定及进化分析

信息素结合蛋白(PBP)是大量存在于昆虫触角感器中的一类小分子蛋白,它特异性结合并运输性信息素组分到神经树突膜上的气味受体。通过设计简并引物并利用RT-PCR技术,从斜纹夜蛾雄虫触角扩增到1个长171bp的预期cDNA片段,测序后经比对表明是PBP3基因片段,将该基因命名为SlitPBP3。利用RACE技术进一步得到SlitPBP3的cDNA全长序列(GenBank登录号:GU082321),长568bp,编码164个氨基酸,具有PBP的典型序列特征。对基因组DNA的研究显示,该基因由3个外显子和2个内含子构成。2个内含子的位置和斜纹夜蛾的另2个PBP基因相同,具有保守性;其长度分别为124bp和73bp。进化分析显示,夜蛾科昆虫的PBP分为3个组,其中斜纹夜蛾的3个PBP被分在不同的3个组,因而可能具有不同的气味结合谱。     

豌豆蚜温度受体基因Painless的克隆及时间和组织表达

【目的】从豌豆蚜（Acyrthosiphon pisum）触角中克隆候选的温度受体基因--Painless,分析该基因所编码的蛋白结构特点,研究该基因在昆虫不同发育时期和不同组织中的表达谱,探讨该基因的功能。【方法】通过生物信息学的方法,使用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）Painless从豌豆蚜基因组数据库AphidBase中预测ApisPainless的假定全长序列,之后根据预测得到的假定全长序列,使用Primer premier 5.0 设计全长引物,使用RT-PCR方法从豌豆蚜触角cDNA中克隆ApisPainless的全长序列,并应用DNAMAN软件对预测序列与克隆序列进行比对,确定克隆序列与预测序列一致后,使用在线工具SMART（simple modular architecture research tool）对克隆得到的ApisPainless蛋白结构进行预测,分析其序列N端的锚蛋白重复序列及跨膜域,通过使用在线比对软件Clustal Omega对ApisPainless与DmelPainless的3个可变剪切型（isoform A、B、C）进行多序列比对,分析ApisPainless的可变剪切类型,通过构建昆虫TRP（transient receptor potential）离子通道超家族的进化树,分析ApisPainless的进化地位,并通过绘图直观地比较TRPA亚家族4个成员TRPA1、Painless、Pyrexia和Water witch的序列长短及N端锚蛋白重复序列的差异,使用实时定量荧光PCR技术,研究ApisPainless在1-4龄若虫以及成虫这5个不同发育时期的相对表达量,以及其在豌豆蚜成虫的触角、头、足和胸腹这4个不同组织中的相对表达量。【结果】预测并克隆得到ApisPainless全长序列,该基因的全长序列为2 832 bp,编码943个氨基酸,蛋白结构分析表明ApisPainless具有8个锚蛋白重复序列以及6次跨膜结构,通过序列比较发现ApisPainless与DmelPainless isform A的相似性最高,达到42.3%。进化树分析结果表明昆虫TRP超家族分为TRPA、TRPC、TRPM、TRPN、TRPV、TRPP和TRPML 7个亚家族,而ApisPainless聚类于TRPA亚家族Painless一支,在TRPA亚家族TRPA1、Painless、Pyrexia和Water witch这4个成员中,TRPA1的序列最长,约为1 200个氨基酸,其后依次是Water witch、Pyrexia和Painless,氨基酸数目约有920-1 000个。从N端的锚蛋白重复序列上看,Water witch和Pyrexia约有9个重复序列,Painless约为8个,而TRPA1则高达15-16个,发育时期表达谱分析结果显示ApisPainless在豌豆蚜的各个发育阶段均有表达,其中以1龄若虫期表达量最高。组织表达谱分析结果显示,ApisPainless在豌豆蚜的触角、头、足和胸腹各组织中均有表达,其中以在触角中的表达量最高,足中的表达量居其次。【结论】克隆得到的ApisPainless是TRPA亚家族Painlss基因,其在触角及足中表达量高,推测其功能可能类似于果蝇的Painless,参与高温伤害识别、机械刺激识别及味觉探测等过程。     

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Gene Family of the Pea Aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors （nAchRs） are cholinergic receptors that form ligand-gated ion channels by ifve subunits in insect and vertebrate nervous systems. The insect nAChR is the molecular target of a class of insecticides, neonicotinoids. Here, we identiifed and cloned 11 candidate nAChR subunit genes in Acyrthosiphon pisum using genome-based bioinformatics combined modern molecular techniques. Most A. pisum nAChRs including α1, α2, α3, α4, α6, α8, and β1 show highly sequence identities with the counterparts of other insects examined. Expression proifles analysis showed that all subunit genes were expressed in adult head. At least two subunits have alternative splicing that obviously increase A. pisum nicotinic receptor diversity. This study will be invaluable for exploring the molecular mechanisms of neonicotinoid-like insecticides in sucking pests, and for ultimately establishing the screening platform of novel insecticides.     

荔枝椿平腹小蜂触角味觉受体基因的鉴定与表达分析

昆虫具有极其敏锐的味觉感受系统,昆虫的味觉系统对其取食选择、交配和产卵等多种行为反应起到重要的作用。荔枝椿平腹小蜂(Anastatus japonicus)作为膜翅目中一种重要的寄生蜂,具有防治荔枝椿象的作用。研究对荔枝椿平腹小蜂触角进行转录组测序,从数据库进行筛选鉴定得到5个味觉受体基因。借助RT-PCR对荔枝椿平腹小蜂的雌性触角、雄性触角、胸、腹和腿部味觉受体的表达量进行比较,发现Ajap GR58,Ajap GR49和Ajap GR64f在成虫的各组织部位表达量一致并均较低,而Ajap GR38和Ajap GR2的表达量相对较高,同时,Ajap GR38只在雌性触角以及胸部特异性表达,Ajap GR2则是在雌性触角、雄性触角、胸部和腹部均有表达,而腿部却不表达。通过系统发育树可以看出,Ajap GR58和Ajap GR49同源,与DmelGR33a,Dmel GR43a聚在一起,Ajap GR38与Dmel GR28同源,与Dmel GR66a聚在一起,说明Ajap GR58、Ajap GR49以及Ajap GR38处于苦味受体家族中,可能也行使苦味感知功能。Ajap GR64f与Dme GRl5,DmelGR64f同源并与Dmel GR64a聚在一起,同时,Ajap GR2与Dmel GR64a,Dmel GR64b,Dmel GR64c,Dmel GR64f以及Dmel GR5所形成的一类并聚在一起,说明Ajap GR64f和Ajap GR2处于甜味受体家族中,可能也行使甜味感知功能。     

Wolbachia Infection in Populations of Ostrinia furnacalis: Diversity,Prevalence, Phylogeny and Evidence for Horizontal Transmission

Wolbachia are maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria infecting a wide range of arthropods and filarial nematodes. They can induce various reproduction alterations in their hosts, including thelytokous parthenogenesis, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), feminization of genetic males and male killing. Here we investigated diversity and prevalence patterns of Wolbachia infection in 43 geographical populations of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, in China and one population in North Korea. Based on Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) sequences, nine strains of Wolbachia (wFur1-wFur9), belonging to supergroups A and B, were identified in populations of O. furnacalis with an average infection rate of 10.5%. Superinfection commonly appeared in individuals of O. furnacalis and coinfection patterns were very complex. There was no specific pattern for the prevalence and distribution of the nine Wolbachia strains suggesting an intricate evolutionary history of Wolbachia infection in this species. The genetic similarity of the wFur1-wFur9 strains with those detected in two parasitoids of O. furnacalis, Macrocentrus cingulum and Lydella grisescens, strongly suggests host-parasitoid horizontal transmission.     

Effects of Various Degrees of Antennal Ablation on Mating and Oviposition Preferences of the Diamondback Moth,Plutella xylostella L.

Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the distribution of the trichoid, basiconic, and coeloconic sensilla on the antennae of the diamondback moth (DBM; Plutella xylostella). The trichoid sensilla were the most abundant sensory organ, and the male moth antennae host significantly more trichoid sensilla than female moth antennae. Conversely, basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were found more frequently on female than on male antennae. We performed experiments with various degrees of antennal ablation and demonstrated that DBM antennae played a key role in the control of mating and oviposition. We found that neither oviposition preference nor mating behaviors changed significantly when less than 1/4 of both antennae were removed. However, there was a significant behavioral change when the antennae were ablated by more than half. As the length of the antenna was shortened, the successful mating rate decreased and mating peak was delayed. An otherwise consistent host preference for oviposition was eliminated when both antennae were completely removed. Furthermore, we found that the number of trichoid sensilla was positively correlated with mating rate and oviposition preference. However, the numbers of basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were not correlated with mating rate and mating peak, but highly correlated with oviposition preference. Taken together, our results indicate that antennal sensory information plays a critical role in the mating and oviposition behaviors of this economically important pest.     

Identification and functional characterization of ApisOr23 in pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum

Pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a serious pest of many different leguminous plants, and it mainly relies on its odorant receptors (Ors) to discriminate among host species. However, less is known about the role that Ors play in the host plant location. In this study, we identified a novel conserved odorant receptor clade by phylogenetic analysis, and conducted the functional analysis of ApisOr23 in A. pisum. The results showed that the homologous Ors from A. pisum, Aphis glycines and Aphis gossypii share 94.28% identity in amino acid sequences. Moreover, conserved motifs were analyzed using the annotated homologous Or23 from eight aphid species, providing further proof of the high conservation level of the Or23 clade. According to the tissue expression pattern analysis, ApisOr23 was mainly expressed in the antennae. Further functional study using a heterologous Xenopus expression system revealed that ApisOr23 was tuned to five plant volatiles, namely trans-2-hexen-1-al, cis-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-heptanol, 4´-ethylacetophenone, and hexyl acetate. Among them, trans-2-hexen-1-al, which is one of the main volatile organic compounds released from legume plants, activated the highest response of ApisOr23. Our findings suggest that the conserved Or23 clade in most aphid species might play an important role in host plant detection.     

大灰象甲非典型气味受体基因SvelOrco的克隆及组织表达谱分析

旨在克隆大灰象甲Sympiezomias velatus的Orco基因，明确其分子特征及其组织表达谱。通过分析成虫触角转录组数据并利用RT-PCR克隆出大灰象甲Orco基因，对大灰象甲Orco蛋白进行结构分析和系统发育分析，并采用qPCR测定Orco基因在大灰象甲成虫不同组织中的表达量。克隆获得大灰象甲Orco基因并命名为SvelOrco(GenBank登录号：OM417062),其开放阅读框长1 449 bp,编码482个氨基酸。预测SvelOrco蛋白的分子质量为53.49 ku,等电点为5.66,主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲组成，有7个跨膜结构域。系统发育分析表明大灰象甲与云杉八齿小蠹Ips typographus亲缘关系最近。qPCR结果显示：SvelOrco主要在大灰象甲成虫触角上表达，雄虫触角表达量最高，是雌虫触角表达量的1.22倍，SvelOrco在翅部也有少量表达，在头、胸、腹和足的表达量极低。     

柑橘大实蝇非典型气味受体基因的克隆、序列分析及组织表达模式

旨在探究柑橘大实蝇(Bactrocera minax)非典型气味受体(odorant receptor co-receptor,Orco)基因的分子特征和组织表达模式,通过对前期获得的柑橘大实蝇成虫转录组数据分析,利用RT-PCR技术克隆柑橘大实蝇Orco基因,并对该基因进行生物信息学分析,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检...     

气味受体基因Orco在中华蜜蜂雄蜂触角中的表达及定位分析

【目的】昆虫气味受体（odorant receptors, Ors）在其发挥嗅觉识别过程中采用的是配体门控离子通道信号传导机制,这一离子通道是由一个特定的共受体与一个普通气味受体结合为异源二聚体而形成的。其中,气味共受体（odorant receptor coreceptor, Orco）是一个十分独特的家族,在不同种类昆虫中高度保守,并在调控昆虫的嗅觉行为方面发挥关键作用。论文在对中华蜜蜂（Apis cerana cerana,简称中蜂）工蜂Orco研究基础之上,进一步探讨雄蜂Orco的表达特性。【方法】采集中蜂1日龄雄蜂的触角、头（去除触角）、胸、腹、足5部分组织,以及不同发育阶段的幼虫、蛹及成蜂触角。提取各样本的总RNA,利用real-time quantitative PCR（qPCR）技术鉴定Orco在雄蜂不同组织及不同发育时期的表达谱;采集1日龄雄蜂触角制备冰冻切片,合成地高辛标记的寡核苷酸探针,利用原位杂交技术对Orco在雄蜂触角中的表达进行细胞定位分析。【结果】qPCR分析结果表明,Orco转录本在不同组织中的表达量表现为触角>头>足>腹>胸,其中触角表达量约为头部的100倍;Orco在雄蜂不同发育阶段均有表达,其中幼虫期和蛹期表达量较低,羽化后开始逐渐升高,性成熟后维持在一个较高的水平。此外,结合前期工蜂荧光定量试验数据,分析得到Orco在雄蜂触角中的表达量极显著高于工蜂触角表达量（P＜0.01）。原位杂交结果显示,Orco阳性杂交信号大量表达于雄蜂触角的板型感器和毛型感器的神经元细胞中。【结论】气味受体基因Orco在中蜂雄蜂的触角中大量表达,且在性成熟后表达量达到高峰。结合前期研究结果,推测Orco在中蜂中是偏雄性表达的。     

The Pig Lhx8 Gene： cDNA Cloning, Bioinformatic Analysis and Expression Level in Tissues and Preimplantation Embryos

Evidence has shown in mouse that Lhx8 is a critical factor for maintenance and differentiation of the oocyte during early oogenesis. In the current paper, attempts were made to clone and characterize a gene encoding Lhx8 from pig. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends （RACE） gave rise to a full-length of Lhx8 which contained 1 681 bp nucleotides, with a complete open reading frame of 885 bp, encoding a 295 amino acid polypeptide. Homology search and sequence multialignment demonstrated that the deduced pig Lhx8 protein sequence shared a high identity with Lhx8 from other mammals, including several highly conservative motifs and amino acids. The phylogenetic tree of the LIM superfamily proteins has been constructed to reveal the evolutionary relationship of various species. RT-PCR analysis showed that the Lhx8 gene was expressed in gonad and immunity tissues. In preimplantation embryos, Lhx8 mRNA expression profiling using realtime PCR revealed that its mRNA levels were highest in 4-cell stage embryos and gradually decreased until the blastocyst stage.     

小菜蛾三个普通气味受体基因的克隆及表达谱

【目的】克隆小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella）触角中3个气味受体基因,明确这3个气味受体在不同组织中的表达分布,进而推测这3个基因的功能,为进一步深入研究奠定基础。【方法】通过新一代高通量测序技术对小菜蛾成虫触角进行转录组测序,获得小菜蛾的转录组数据信息,通过对高质量序列的拼接组装、基因鉴定和功能注释,并通过Blastx基于数据库进行相似性比对分析,预测小菜蛾的气味受体候选基因;设计引物通过克隆得到3条普通气味受体基因的全长序列,并利用半定量RT-PCR研究其在雌、雄成虫9个不同组织中的表达。【结果】根据预测的基因序列,设计特异引物,克隆得到3条普通气味受体基因的全长序列,分别命名为PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18（GenBank登录号分别为KF717601-KF717603）。PxylOR16开放阅读框全长为1 218 bp,编码406个氨基酸;PxylOR17开放阅读框全长为1 200 bp,编码400个氨基酸;PxylOR18开放阅读框全长为 1 191 bp,编码397个氨基酸。选择已报道的鳞翅目昆虫家蚕（Bombyx mori）、烟芽夜蛾（Heliothis virescens）和棉铃虫（Helicoverpa armigera）的气味受体,以及已报道的小菜蛾的6条性信息素受体与1条非典型气味受体与本实验克隆得到的3个气味受体进行序列比对和进化树分析,结果显示这3个气味受体基因与非典型气味受体和性信息素受体同源性低,而与其他的普通气味受体聚类在一起,且PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18彼此同源性较低。半定量的结果显示,3个普通气味受体基因均在触角中表达量最大,在其他嗅觉感器,如喙、下唇须和头部中也有一定量的表达,雌、雄间无显著差异。另外,PxylOR17在雌蛾生殖器中,PxylOR18在雌蛾腹中也有一定表达。但3种气味受体基因在雌、雄蛾的胸、足和翅等组织中均不表达。【结论】鉴定和克隆了3个小菜蛾气味受体基因,明确这些气味受体基因在小菜蛾不同组织中的表达水平,通过进化树分析、序列比对和组织表达谱分析确定PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18为3条普通气味受体,且在功能上高度分化。根据半定量RT-PCR的结果,推测这3个基因可能参与了普通气味分子的识别过程,此外PxylOR17和PxylOR18还可能参与了信息素的产生和释放过程。     

Development of a high-efficiency sex pheromone formula to control Euproctis pseudoconspersa

The tea tussock moth (Euproctis pseudoconspersa) is one of the most destructive chewing pests in tea plantations and causes a serious allergic reaction on the skin of tea plantation workers. The sex pheromone components of its Japanese population were first identified as 10,14-dimethylpentadecyl isobutyrate (10Me14Me-15:iBu) and 14-methylpentadecyl isobutyrate (14Me-15:iBu), with a stereogenic center. Only 10Me14Me-15:iBu has been identified in the Chinese E. pseudoconspersa population. However, field tests have shown that 10Me14Me-15:iBu cannot meet the demand of effective pest control in China. To develop a high-efficiency E. pseudoconspersa sex pheromone formula, electroantennogram (EAG) recordings of (S)- and (R)-enantiomers of 10Me14Me-15:iBu and 14Me-15:iBu were obtained in the present study. The results demonstrated that the EAG responses of male antennae to (R)-enantiomers were significantly higher than responses to the (S)-enantiomers, and 14Me-15:iBu also elicited EAG activity. Field tests showed that the catch numbers of male moths by (R)-enantiomers were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of (S)-enantiomers. Addition of 14Me-15:iBu significantly increased the catch numbers of both the (S)- and (R)-enantiomers. The efficient pheromone formula containing 0.75 mg (R)-10Me14Me-15:iBu and 0.1 mg 14Me-15:iBu showed significantly higher attractiveness than commercial pheromone products. Our study demonstrated that (R)-10Me14Me-15:iBu was the major sex pheromone component of E. pseudoconspersa, and 14Me-15:iBu might be the minor sex pheromone component. Furthermore, a high-efficiency sex pheromone formula for E. pseudoconspersa control was defined in this study.     

Gene Cloning and Tissue-Specific Microplitis mediator （Hymenoptera： Expression of G Protein β Subunit in Braconidae）

A gene encoding a novel G protein β subunit of β1 subclass, GβMmed was isolated from Microplitis mediator （Hymenoptera： Braconidae）. The full-length sequence of GβMmed is 1 119 bp, the cDNA contains a 1 023 bp open reading frame that encodes a protein with 340 amino acids, and the predicted molecular weight of GβMmed is 37.23 kDa and isoelectric point is 5.86. By the quantitative real-time RT-PCR method, the tissue-specific expression and quantitative changes in the developmental expression profile of GβMmed were detected. It was found that GβMmed was abundantly expressed in M. mediator antennae, head （without antennae）, thorax, abdomen, legs and the wings, and especially at high levels in abdomen. In antennae, expression varied through 1st day before emergence to 5-d-old adults, and had equal expression levels detected in females and males in total. In head, GβMmed expresses while initially high in females, and have another peaked in stage 4 and 1st day, in males showed a peak of GβMmed expression prior to emergence and relatively low levels after emergence. In female abdomen GβMmed expression levels have two peaks in stage 1 and the 5th d, but just have one peak in male abdomen in stage 1. In all other tissues expression was low and stable.     

Penetration of a Single Domain of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ie-Domain I to a Lipid Membrane In vitro

Domain I of the activated Crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis has a seven α-helix bundle structure, which is responsible for membrane channel formation in its insecticidal mechanism. Cry1Ie is toxic to Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), and plays important roles in insect biological control. The domain I from Cry1Ie has been expressed and purified in its normal conformation, as embedded in the full length homologous toxin structure. The membrane insertion ability of this single domain was compared with the full length homologous toxin using a monolayer insertion experiment. The results indicated that the Cry1Ie-domain I had the ability to insert into the lipid monolayer, and this ability is greater than that of the IE648 toxin. However, the state of insertion is not stable and remains for only a short period of time. The Cry1Ie-domain I plays no role in receptor binding as it had a nonspecific binding with the brush border membrane vesicles of the Asian corn borer.