昆虫抗冻蛋白基因的克隆与表达研究进展

Recent advances in cloning and expression of the insect antifreeze protein genes.

产生抗冻蛋白(antifreeze protein,AFP)是许多昆虫抵御寒冷的一种重要机制。昆虫抗冻蛋白基因的克隆和表达是研究抗冻蛋白活性和功能的主要途径。文章归纳GenBank所登录的昆虫抗冻蛋白基因及其特点,总结昆虫抗冻蛋白基因的天然表达和基因工程表达方面尚未明确或需要克服的一些问题。目前在GenBank注册的昆虫抗冻蛋白基因约100个,集中于9种昆虫隶属鞘翅目3个科和鳞翅目1个科。昆虫抗冻蛋白基因具有多拷贝和多同种型(isoforms)的特点。昆虫抗冻蛋白的天然表达具有物种间和同种型间的多样性。基因工程表达昆虫抗冻蛋白需要克服表达量低活性不高的问题。对昆虫抗冻蛋白表达规律的研究有助于全面认识其功能。

Insects survive cold environment mainly by producing antifreeze proteins （AFPs）. The expression pattern of AFP and the cloning of AFP genes are the major aspect in the research of the AFP function and activity. In this paper, almost all of the insect antifreeze protein genes registered in the GenBank were summarized and listed in terms of the species from which the gene was cloned, the number of the registered genes, the features of the cloned fragments and the registration time. The inconsistent results in the natural antifreeze protein gene expression among different species and different AFP isoforms were discussed. The problems encountered in the fusion expression of insect AFPs was also analyzed, mainly focused on improvement of expression level and increase of the AFP activity. By now, the number of insect AFP genes registered in GenBank is about one hundred from nine species in four orders （Tortricidae in Lepidoptera and Pyrochroidae, Tenebrionidae, and Lucanidae in Coleoptera）. Insect AFPs exist in many copies and isoforms. The study on the expression of insect AFP genes would expand our knowledge about the function of antifreeze protein.