昆虫蜕皮激素生物合成及其神经肽调控

Insect ecdysteroids biosynthesis and its regulation by neuropeptides

蜕皮激素是对节肢动物体内类固醇激素的统称,昆虫的蜕皮激素主要由内分泌器官前胸腺合成,具有诱发幼虫周期性蜕皮以及最终变态蜕皮的生理功能。近期的研究工作阐明了前胸腺中原先被称为"黑箱"的一系列酶促反应步骤,此外促前胸腺激素受体的成功鉴定使人们对PTTH信号转导通路调控前胸腺蜕皮激素合成有了更深入的理解。

Molting hormone, the general name for steroid substance found in arthropods. In insect, ecdysteroids are synthesized in the endocrine organ-prothoracic glands, and trigger major development transition such as the periodical larval molting as well as the metamorphsis. Resent works in Drosophila melanogaster identify some of the important players in ＂black box＂. The identification of PTTH receptor will help us understand the regulation of eedysteroids biosynthesis by PTTH signaling pathway.