生物谷報道：多數(shù)昆蟲的雌性在交配后其生殖行為都發(fā)生一個深遠的變化：它們會變得對求偶的雄性不能接受,，并開始產卵。尤其是雌蚊子,，它們在交配后開始找血吃,。這種變化是由雄性精液中存在的因子誘發(fā)的。1988年,，科學家發(fā)現(xiàn)果蠅身上這種活性因子是一種小的肽分子,，稱之為“性肽”。現(xiàn)在,，科學家長期尋找的這種肽的受體蛋白已經(jīng)被識別出來,。這種性肽受體（原來就是孤兒受體CG16752）在一個與其他性行為也相關的神經(jīng)元中發(fā)揮功能。該受體在不同昆蟲物種中都被高度地保留了下來,，從而提出這樣一個可能性：我們有可能以該受體為目標,，來破壞有害昆蟲的生殖行為，或干擾能夠傳播疾病的昆蟲尋找宿主的行為,。
生物谷推薦英文原文：
Nature 451, 33-37 (3 January 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature06483; Received 21 August 2007; Accepted 19 November 2007; Published online 9 December 2007
A receptor that mediates the post-mating switch in Drosophila reproductive behaviour
Nilay Yapici1,2, Young-Joon Kim1,2, Carlos Ribeiro1 & Barry J. Dickson1
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Barry J. Dickson1 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to B.J.D. (Email: [email protected]).
Abstract
Mating in many species induces a dramatic switch in female reproductive behaviour. In most insects, this switch is triggered by factors present in the male's seminal fluid. How these factors exert such profound effects in females is unknown. Here we identify a receptor for the Drosophila melanogaster sex peptide (SP, also known as Acp70A), the primary trigger of post-mating responses in this species. Females that lack the sex peptide receptor (SPR, also known as CG16752), either entirely or only in the nervous system, fail to respond to SP and continue to show virgin behaviours even after mating. SPR is expressed in the female's reproductive tract and central nervous system. The behavioural functions of SPR map to the subset of neurons that also express the fruitless gene, a key determinant of sex-specific reproductive behaviour. SPR is highly conserved across insects, opening up the prospect of new strategies to control the reproductive and host-seeking behaviours of agricultural pests and human disease vectors.
