Effects of lipidic compounds on insect cannibalism through lipid metabolisms and neuroendocrine

• Project/Area Number: 16K15066
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Nagata Shinji 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (40345179)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: 昆虫 / 摂食行動 / 共食い / 脂質 / 共食い行動 / 異種同種認識 / 体表成分 / 分子生物学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our research revealed that the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus recognizes lipidic compounds on the cuticle of the predator by the antenna in their cannibalisms. Crickets which the cuticular lipidic compounds were removed from body surface by hexane were critically cannibalized. GCMS analysis of cuticular lipids identified mainly 13 hydrocarbons. The putative biosynthetic enzymes of these lipids have been identified from the analyses of RNA-sequencing. In addition, transcriptional knockdown of those enzymes by RNAi resulted in increased frequency to be cannibalized. Data agreed with the experimental evidences which the changes in the structure and composition of cuticular lipid compounds imbalanced their relationship between predators and predators.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

フタホシコオロギをはじめとする直翅目昆虫のほとんどは、共食いする昆虫種である。特に、フタホシコオロギは攻撃性の強く、古くから攻撃行動のモデル昆虫種として研究対象となっていた。本研究の成果により、コオロギの共食い行動や攻撃性行動の生理学的な原因、および生化学的な原因因子が明らかになりつつある。昆虫で良く認められる種間、あるいは種内のセミオケミカルの研究だけでなく、社会性生物で見られる特徴的な脳神経系の解明につながると考えられる。また、全生物種の生体間コミュニケーションを形成する分子メカニズム研究の一端を担うと考えられる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Feeding modulation in insects through factors in the hemolymph (2018)
  • Author(s): Shinji Nagata
  • Journal Title: Biosci Biotech Biochem. Volume: 29 Pages: 1-6
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Adipokinetic hormone signaling determines dietary fatty acid preference through maintenance of hemolymph fatty acid composition in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (2018)
  • Author(s): Fukumura Keisuke、Konuma Takahiro、Tsukamoto Yusuke、Nagata Shinji
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Pages: 4737-4737
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22987-2
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Effects of adipokinetic hormone and its related peptide on maintaining hemolymph carbohydrate and lipid levels in the two-spotted cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (2018)
  • Author(s): Zhou Yi Jun、Fukumura Keisuke、Nagata Shinji
  • Journal Title: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Volume: 82 Issue: 2 Pages: 274-284
  • DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2017.1422106
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Behavioral tracing demonstrates dietary nutrient discrimination in two-spotted crickets Gryllus bimaculatus (2017)
  • Author(s): Fukumura Keisuke、Nagata Shinji
  • Journal Title: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Volume: 81 Issue: 10 Pages: 1990-1993
  • DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2017.1343119
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] フタホシコオロギにおけるペプチドホルモン類の同定と他の昆虫種との進化的な比較考察 (2018)
  • Author(s): 永田晋治、塚本悠介、福村圭介、Zhou Yi Jun、森山 俊、藤盛春奈、土本真帆、吉國大稀
  • Organizer: 日本比較内分泌学会
• [Presentation] フタホシコオロギ(Gryllus bimaculatus)における菌感染が摂食行動に与える影響 (2018)
  • Author(s): 久保健一、福村圭介、伊藤尚子、永田晋治
  • Organizer: 蚕糸昆虫学術利用講演会
• [Presentation] 昆虫類のステロール生合成の欠損とステロール要求性 (2018)
  • Author(s): 永田晋治
  • Organizer: 日本農芸化学会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] カイコBombyx moriにおけるDHCR24ホモログタンパク質の酵素活性測定 (2018)
  • Author(s): 藤盛春奈、永田晋治
  • Organizer: 日本農芸化学会
• [Presentation] フタホシコオロギの捕食行動における異種個体の認識 (2017)
  • Author(s): 吉國大稀、森山俊、永田晋治
  • Organizer: 日本農芸化学会2017年度大会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都女子大学
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-20
• [Presentation] 昆虫の代謝系と内分泌系が制御する行動修飾 (2017)
  • Author(s): 永田晋治
  • Organizer: 日本比較内分泌学会
  • Invited