核转录共调节因子LMO调控绿盲蝽变态发育的分子机制

Metamorphosis is essential for insects’ growth and development. Our pilot results showed that down-regulation of LMO which is a family of multifunctional nuclear transcriptional co-regulators would specifically block the metamorphosis of the Apolygus lucorum. However, the molecular mechanism behind the phenomenon is still not clear. Therefore, based on the results, this project will comprehensively adopt qPCR, CO-IP, ChIP-seq and RNAi technologies to screen and identify LMO interaction proteins and downstream genes which related to the metamorphosis of A. lucorum. Then, the expression patterns of candidate interaction protein genes and downstream genes were clarified and their correlation with LMO was analyzed. Finally, the function of key candidate genes will be confirmed. The project will eventually provide a preliminary analysis of the molecular mechanisms about how LMO regulates the metamorphosis development of A. lucorum. The research results will enrich the molecular mechanism of metamorphosis of hemimetabolan insect, and it will also provide scientific basis and new targets for developing new and effective green technologies to control plant bugs.

变态发育是昆虫所必经的过程，对昆虫的生长发育至关重要。申请人前期研究发现，下调多功能核转录共调节因子LMO基因特异性阻断了绿盲蝽的变态发育。然而，LMO如何参与并调控变态发育尚不清楚。本项目拟综合运用qPCR、CO-IP、ChIP-seq和RNAi等技术，筛选和鉴定与绿盲蝽变态发育相关的LMO互作蛋白和下游基因，明确关键基因的表达模式并分析其与LMO的相关性，并进一步验证关键基因的功能，以期初步解析LMO调控绿盲蝽变态发育的分子机制。研究结果不仅可以丰富渐变态昆虫变态发育的分子机制，还可为为开发新型高效的盲蝽绿色防控技术提供科学依据和新的靶标。

绿盲蝽是一类重要的农业害虫，我们前期研究发现下调多功能核转录共调节因子LMO（AlLIM）基因特异性阻断了绿盲蝽的变态发育。然而，AlLIM是如何参与并调控变态发育尚不清楚。本项目在前期研究基础上利用RNAi、qPCR、组织切片、RNAseq等技术研究从组织学、生理学和分子学角度系统解析了AlLIM基因调控绿盲蝽变态发育的机制。在此基础上，根据课题需求，还完成了对绿盲蝽稳定内参基因的筛选，并通过转基因技术，成功培育了稳定表达AlLIM基因dsRNA的转基因棉花，该棉花品系对绿盲蝽具有良好的抗性。研究结果为开发新型高效的盲蝽绿色防控技术提供科学依据和新的种质资源。