Identification of novel juvenile-hormone signaling activators via high-throughput screening with a chemical library

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect-specific hormone that regulates molting and metamorphosis. Hence, JH signaling inhibitors (JHSIs) and activators (JHSAs) can be used as effective insect growth regulators (IGRs) for pest management. In our previous study, we established a high-throughput screening (HTS) system for exploration of novel JHSIs and JHSAs using a Bombyx mori cell line (BmN_JF&AR cells) and succeeded in identifying novel JHSIs from a chemical library. Here, we searched for novel JHSAs using this system. The four-step HTS yielded 10 compounds as candidate JHSAs; some of these compounds showed novel basic structures, whereas the others were composed of a 4-phenoxyphenoxymethyl skeleton, the basic structure of several existing JH analogs (pyriproxyfen and fenoxycarb). Topical application of seven compounds to B. mori larvae significantly prolonged the larval period, suggesting that the identified JHSAs may be promising IGRs targeting the JH signaling pathway.     

New ways and new hopes for IGR development

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) represent advanced, bio-rational insecticides. This Special Issue reflects progress in IGR development that has been enabled by insight into the molecular principles of biosynthetic or hormone signaling pathways. The unifying principle is aiming at processes and molecular targets that are unique to arthropods and ideally to narrower insect taxa representing pests or disease vectors. While some strategies of obtaining the desired compounds for chemical intervention rely on rational, structure-based design or computational power, others exploit technologies allowing automated, high-throughput screening of large chemical libraries. All avenues leading to selective and environmentally safe pest control are valid as we face the imminent threat of the declining world insect population.     

Met基因在黏虫生殖中的功能分析

保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)是由咽侧体分泌的倍半萜类化合物,可以调控昆虫的很多生理过程,如发育、变态、生殖等。作为bHLH-PAS(helix-loop-helix-Per-ARNT-Sim)转录因子家族成员之一的methoprene-tolerant (Met)是JH的受体,在JH的信号传导过程中有非常重要的作用。本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR结合RNAi技术测定了沉默Met基因后黏虫Mythimna separata的Vg基因表达、卵巢发育和生殖行为,旨在探究Met基因在黏虫生殖过程中的功能。结果表明当Met基因沉默后,与卵巢发育密切相关的卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因表达量下调了50%,从而显著抑制了卵巢发育,并导致产卵显著延迟、产卵历期显著缩短,产卵量显著下降。结果表明Met基因是黏虫生殖发育过程中的关键受体基因,它通过调节后续Vg的表达和沉积,来达到控制卵巢发育,从而调控生殖作用。     

Hormonal changes play important roles in the key period of superior and inferior earshoot differentiation in maize

The upper earshoots with higher superiority usually have higher yield potential and higher efficiency. To determine the key period for the asynchronous differentiation of superior and inferior earshoots and how hormones are involved in this process, a two-year experiment was designed using two maize hybrids: Suyu 41 (S41, single-ear hybrid) and AN 101 (A101, double-ear hybrid). The results showed that the lag of lower earshoot differentiation was not only caused by the delay of the differentiation starting time but also related to extension of the duration in spikelet differentiation (stage II) and sexual organ formation stage (stage IV). From 12 days before silking (DBS), the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR)+zeatin (ZT), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) in both upper and lower earshoots of the two hybrids increased dramatically and then decreased quickly. ABA slightly increased in the two hybrids and then decreased slowly in S41, while it was maintained at a high level in A101. At 8 DBS, i.e., the transition period from floret differentiation to sexual organ formation stage, not only the growth of upper-to-lower earshoot difference (ULED), but also the values for ULED of IAA, ZR+ZT and GA₃ were all significantly higher in S41 than in A101. Furthermore, the upper-to-lower hormone ratios IAA_U//AA_L and (ZR+ZT)_U/(ZR+ZT)_L were also much higher in the single-ear hybrid than in the double-ear hybrid, while the GA_3U/GA_3L and ABA_U/ABA_L had no significant differences. In addition, the time course of ULED_hormone/ULED_{earshoot growth rate} also suggested that the hormones work in different ways in earshoot superiority/inferiority formation. The delayed differentiation of lower ear shoots was conclusively related to the later initiation of differentiation and the longer durations of specific differentiation stages. Compared with the regulating roles of IAA and ZR+ZT in the key period (8 DBS) of superiority/inferiority differentiation, GA₃ seems to be affected earlier, while ABA contributes little to this process.     

生殖激素产品的应用和发展趋势

生殖激素是调控动物体内复杂生殖过程并影响繁殖性能的一系列的重要激素。近年来，利用生殖激素的批次化生产繁殖技术被广泛使用，提高了母猪的繁殖效率，促进了养猪业向集约化和规模化方向的发展。目前在批次化生产过程中主要采用孕马血清促性腺激素（PMSG）和人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）以及化学类激素进行繁殖调控。但是这些产品的应用仍存在一些问题，因此需要开发出成本低、活性好的高品质蛋白类生殖激素产品，应用于猪场批次化生产中，提高生猪养殖效率和降低生产成本，为提升我国乃至全球畜牧业的动物繁殖效率做出贡献，为动物和人类的健康提供重要保证。     

The release and uptake of metals from potential biofilm inhibition products during spiny lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi,H. Milne Edwards 1851) culture

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are strong inhibitors of bacterial biofilms in aqueous solutions, but are known toxins of crustaceans. A new metal application method; cold‐sprayed metal embedment, known to modulate metal release, was tested for its applications in crustacean larval culture systems. Cold‐spray technology allows metal particles to bond to plastics, while modulating metal ion release and biocide activity to the substrate boundary. In this study, Eastern spiny lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) larvae (phyllosoma) were cultured in the presence of cold‐sprayed Zn and Cu metal surfaces. Metal loss was monitored gravimetrically on embedded surfaces, assessment of water ion concentrations and analysis of phyllosoma body content were undertaken. Phyllosoma moulting, deformity and mortality patterns were monitored. Cold‐sprayed Zn‐ and Cu‐embedded surfaces were depleted with losses of 0.69% and 31.2% noted respectively. Culture water concentrations of these metals were elevated and accumulation by phyllosoma occurred. Water Zn concentrations of 18.5 μg L^?1 were associated with chronic eyestalk moult deformities; the first report of Zn causing a non‐lethal moult deformity in crustacean larvae. The Cu surface lost a third of its metal mass with a water concentration of 40 μg L^?1 causing acute toxicity and localization of composite granules in the midgut gland. Cu associated mortality was noted by Day 2 of culture with a LD 50 experienced by Day 9. Future work on the use of bioactive metals in aquaculture systems will focus on a range of different metal alloys, and improved modulation of ion release mechanisms through increased particle embedment depth and separation.     

Retracted: Study of testis histology and sperm morphology in the Bunnei,Barbus sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874) induced by luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue and carp pituitary extract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of hormone treatment on testis structure in Barbus sharpeyi, as well as the morphology of sperm examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Male B. sharpeyi were divided into three groups (three fish per group) and injected with luteinizing hormone – releasing hormone analogue (LHRH–A₂) or carp pituitary extract (CPE). The first and second groups were treated with 10 μg kg^?1 LHRH–A₂ and metoclopramide (MET), and their testis were sampled pre‐ and Poststripping respectively. The third group received 2 mg kg^?1 CPE and were killed pre‐stripping. Based on the histological results obtained, the testicular connective tissue of the lumen was thicker, and seminal vesicles were of a lower volume, in fish injected with CPE in comparison to the other groups. After treatment with LHRH–A₂ and MET, not all spermatozoa within the testis were ejaculated, and only a small amount of sperm was obtained by abdominal stripping. The highest and lowest diameters of connective tissue within lobules were observed in fish receiving CPE and LHRH–A₂ treatments respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in lobule space between the fish injected with the CPE and the fish injected with the LHRH–A₂ and MET. The SEM results revealed that the spermatozoa of B. sharpeyi were composed of a spherical to elliptical head, a cylindrical midpiece, and a lengthy flagellum. In conclusion, it was found that injection with LHRH–A₂ and MET improved the spermatogenic process in comparison to injection with CPE.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the growth hormone gene of Oreochromis niloticus and their association with growth performance

Polymorphisms in the growth hormone (GH) gene that is associated with the growth rate of farmed fish have been the target of many breeding programmes. The present study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GH gene regions to evaluate the association of SNP variations with the growth rate of two Nile tilapia: Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) strains. The targeted regions were amplified, sequenced, aligned and screened for the presence of SNPs; thereafter, performance tests were used to check for the association between SNPs and weight. Allele and genotype frequencies were estimated for each SNP and genotype. Genotype blocks or sets of SNP genotypes and frequencies were also estimated. Association between SNPs and growth rate was statistically evaluated using a univariate linear mixed model that included both fixed and random effects. A total of 10 SNPs were identified, nine in the proximal promoter and one located in the 5′ UTR, forming 10 genotype blocks. In all weight recordings, five genotype blocks were significantly associated with the highest weights. Single nucleotide polymorphisms 6‐10 were also found to be significantly associated with growth (p‐value < .05). Genotypes with higher additive genetic values for weight were identified in the Chitralada strain, suggesting a possible impact of these additive effects of the GH SNP genotype on the growth rate of Nile tilapia. These findings may be used as part of marker‐assisted selection in tilapia breeding programmes.     

油菜素内酯浸根对水稻水卷苗机插植伤的修复效应

目的 探究油菜素内酯(Brassinolide, BR)浸根对机插水卷苗栽后本田生长及产量的影响。方法 以宁粳8号为试验材料,分析不同浓度BR(T1、T10、T20,分别表示水培营养液中BR浓度为1 mg/L、10 mg/L、20 mg/L)浸根对水卷苗机插本田后返青活棵及产量的影响,以正常水培营养液处理为对照(CK)。结果 BR浸根(T1、T10、T20)能够促进水稻地上部生长,栽插本田21d后株高较CK分别增加11.68%、8.12%和7.61%;BR浸根对水卷苗栽后根系的促生作用更为明显,不同浓度BR浸根对水卷苗栽后根长、根表面积、根尖数、根体积、根直径、根质量和根冠比均产生了显著影响,其中根尖数以低浓度BR处理效果更优,而其他根系指标均以高浓度BR处理效果更优。与CK相比,不同浓度BR浸根降低了叶片过氧化氢浓度(至移栽后12 d,分别降低12.50%、23.25%和22.25%),增强了叶片抗氧化酶活性;与移栽当天相比,移栽后第2天BR浸根处理叶片中玉米素(ZT)浓度迅速增加(分别为197.27%、153.11%和243.78%),而CK增加缓慢(2.94%),根系表现一致,且根系中生长素(IAA)浓度显著高于CK;同时BR处理在栽后一周内赤霉素(GA₃)浓度均明显高于对照。与CK相比,T10处理显著提高了每穗粒数和结实率(分别为15.04%和6.62%),T20处理显著提高了结实率(6.17%),但BR处理千粒重均显著下降,最终产量T10和T20处理较CK分别提高5.11%和7.99%。结论 适当浓度的BR(T10~T20)浸根能减轻水卷苗机插植伤,提高抗氧化酶活性,降低H₂O₂含量,提高ZT、GA₃和IAA浓度,高效地促进根系生长,提高了每穗粒数和结实率。本研究可为减轻机插植伤,促进机插水稻高产稳产提供理论依据和技术参考。