捕蝇草的捕虫机理及应用前景研究进展

Research progress on insect trapping mechanism and application prospects of Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

捕食动物是植物适应环境的一种现象。作为食虫植物研究的典型代表,捕蝇草(Dionaea muscipula)为捕食昆虫而演化出的独特生理特征从被发现起就引起了植物学家的广泛关注。近年来,捕蝇草特有的快速捕食和消化小动物的机制使它成为人工捕虫器及新型特种材料等研究应用的灵感来源。捕虫夹消化腺高效分泌蛋白质的能力使捕蝇草具有被开发为重组蛋白生产平台的潜能,其消化液内所含的次生代谢产物可被开发成新型药物及昆虫引诱剂等材料。本综述总结了捕蝇草的最新研究成果和进展,包括捕蝇草捕食及消化机制、捕食现象的进化来源、及其在仿生学和生物医药方面上的应用前景。

Plant carnivory is the results of adapting to the environment. As a typical representative of carnivorous plant research, the unique physiological features of Venus flytrap(Dionaea muscipula) evolved to prey on insests have attreacted wide attention of botanists. In recent years, the unique mechanism of rapid movement of Venus flytrap makes it a source of inspiration for many applications, such as artificial insect catcher and new materials. The ability of trap digestive gland to secrete protein efficiently makes it possible for flytrap to be developed as a production platform of recombinant protein. In addition, the secondary metabolites isolated from the Venus flytrap have good potential to be developed into new drugs and insect attractants. This review summarizes the latest research results and progress of this special plant, including the mechanism of predation and digestion of Venus flytrap, the evolutionary source of predation, and its application prospects in bionics and biomedicine.