昆虫神经肽Corazonin及其受体的研究进展

Research Progress in Insect Neuropeptide Corazonin and Its Receptor

昆虫神经肽Corazonin是由11个氨基酸组成的结构非常保守的短肽,除在极大部分昆虫中是由前侧脑的神经元分泌外,也发现在少部分昆虫中是由腹部和食管下神经元分泌。Corazonin广泛存在于昆虫纲动物中,在不同昆虫中行使心率加速、体色改变、物质代谢增减、发育与生理节律调控、蜕皮延迟、吐丝减少等非常广泛的生理功能。介导Corazonin作用的Cora-zonin受体是典型的G蛋白偶联受体,定位在细胞膜上,在昆虫系统进化过程中具有一定的保守性。本文概述了昆虫Corazonin的发现、分泌、结构、生理功能及其受体的研究进展情况,归纳了研究中存在的争议,并在此基础上对其在广泛功能分化、对昆虫生存意义、胁迫环境下的生理与生化功能、受体结构功能与信号转导机制等方面的研究前景进行了展望。

Insect neuropeptide Corazonin is a highly conserved oligopeptide which is comprised of 11 amino acids. It is mostly secreted by neurons of the pars lateralis in insect protocerebrum, with some secreted by abdominal and suboesophageal ganglia. It is widely spread in Insecta and plays various roles in physiological processes such as heartbeat acceleration, pigment migration, metabolism homeostasis, developmental and circadian rhythmic regulation, ecdysis delay and spinning reduction in different insect species. Corazonin could activate its receptor, which is a typical G-protein coupied receptor located on cell membrane. It is also conserved in insect phylogenesis. This paper provides an overview on research progress in the discovery, secretion, structure and physiological roles of insect Corazonin and its receptor, and discusses the controversies existing in the researches. Based on these discussions, an outlook concerning the extensively diversified functions, survival significance to insect, physiological and biochemical functions under environmental stress, structure and function of receptor, and signal transduction pathway of insect Corazonin is proposed.