昆虫钟基因研究进展

Research progress in circadian clock genes in insects

昆虫进化形成了内在的生物钟机制以协调行为、生理及代谢节律与外部环境信号同步,从而更有效地利用资源并获得适应性优势。行为、生理及代谢昼夜调控的协调对于昆虫有效应对可预见的生理上的挑战至关重要。生化过程和代谢变化与外部环境的昼夜节律同步性受基因表达的控制,钟基因在昆虫的重要生理过程如中枢及外围生物钟机制、光周期信号传导、光周期介导的外围组织调控、代谢以及免疫中发挥着重要作用。根据信号转导过程中的作用,昆虫钟基因分为3类——信号输入基因、信号震荡起搏器和信号输出基因,它们通过相互作用形成了复杂的转录-翻译反馈回路并参与调控昆虫昼夜节律和光周期事件。本文针对昆虫钟基因的鉴定、分类和功能,作用分子机制以及研究方法和挑战等方面作了总结,并展望了昆虫钟基因未来的研究方向,这将为昆虫钟基因的进一步功能研究及开发利用提供信息参考。

Insects have evolved an endogenous biological clock mechanism to synchronize behavioral,physiological and metabolic rhythms with environmental cues,which helps insects to use energy sources more efficiently,thereby conferring an adaptive advantage. The coordinated circadian regulation of behavior,physiology and metabolic cycles is crucial for insects to respond effectively to predictable physiological challenges. Circadian rhythms depend on gene expression to synchronize biochemical processes and metabolic fluxes with the external environment. Circadian clock genes play important roles in some crucial physiological processes such as central and peripheral biological clock mechanism,photoperiod signal transduction,photoperiod-mediated regulation of peripheral tissues,metabolism and immunity. Circadian clock genes are classified into three categories according to their roles： signal transduction-signal input genes,signal oscillation pacemakers and signal output genes. Circadian clock genes constitute complicated transcription-translation feedback loops through interactions with each other and regulate insect circadian and photoperiodic events. This review summarized the identification,classification and functions of circadian clock genes in insects,molecular mechanisms of their action,and the related research methods and challenges. The future research directions were also discussed. This review will provide reference information for further functional research and utilization of circadian clock genes in insects.