鳞翅目昆虫性别决定机制研究进展

昆虫性别决定机制复杂多样, 研究昆虫性别决定机制既能加强对物种进化关系的理解, 也能为通过遗传调控控制害虫种群提供新方向。鳞翅目昆虫多为雌雄二型, 繁殖方式以两性生殖为主, 性染色体系统大多为ZW/ZZ系统, 雌性为ZW型, 雄性为ZZ型。昆虫性别决定是通过级联反应调控的, 在鳞翅目昆虫ZW/ZZ系统中, 位于W染色体上的性别决定初始信号沉默雄性化关键基因Masculinizer (Masc), 然后Doublesex(dsx)基因被雌性特异性剪接, 从而调控雌性偏向基因的表达; 而雄虫中Masc正常表达, 调控dsx进行雄性特异剪接, 实现雄性分化。本文对鳞翅目昆虫性别决定初始信号、Masc和dsx的研究现状, 以及基于基因编辑技术和性别决定机制在鳞翅目昆虫遗传调控中的应用进行了综述。相关研究为鳞翅目昆虫的性别筛选、不育昆虫释放技术(sterile insect technique, SIT)和释放携带雌性特异显性致死基因昆虫技术(female-specific release of insects carrying dominant lethal, fsRIDL)奠定理论基础。

Research progresses in sex determination mechanism of lepidopteran insects

The sex determination mechanism of insects is complicated and diverse. Exploring this issue help us to understand the evolutionary relationships of species and to provide a new direction for genetic control of pests. Lepidopteran insects mostly exhibit sexual dimorphism, their reproduction strategy is gamogenesis, and sex chromosome systems mainly possess ZW/ZZ system. Females belong to ZW type while males belong to ZZ type. Sex determination is regulated by a cascade reactions in insects. In lepidopteran ZW/ZZ system, the sex-determining primary signal located on the W chromosome silences the Masculinizer (Masc), that leads to alternative splicing of Doublesex (dsx) gene on the Z chromosome and expression of female-biased genes. In males, Masc is expressed normally and regulates male-specific splicing of dsx to achieve male differentiation. In this paper, we summarized research status in primary signal, Masc, and dsx, as well as the application of gene editing technology and sex determination mechanism in genetic regulation of lepidopteran insects. Researches in this subject provide theoretical basis for sex screening of lepidopteran insects, sterile insect technique (SIT) and female-specific release of insects carrying dominant lethal (fsRIDL).