Functional analysis of genes related to molting hormone inactivation and development of insecticide screening system

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15533
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Uchibori Miwa 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 生物機能利用研究部門, 主任研究員 (80724856)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: P450 / TALEN / 脱皮ホルモン不活性化経路

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of regulation of molting hormone inactivation in lepidopteran insects and to develop a screening system for a new insect growth regulator that disturbs the inactivation. First, CYP18A1, a type of P450 gene in Bombyx mori, was knocked out by genome editing. As a result, the knockout silk moth died during embryogenesis. This result suggests that CYP18A1 is involved in the inactivation of molting hormone in lepidopteran insects and is essential for the progression of normal embryonic development. Next, the expression vector containing CYP18A1 and Cytochrome P450 Reductase was transformed into Escherichia coli to express each protein. The 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) metabolic activity of CYP18A1 was investigated in vitro, but no metabolic activity was observed.

Free Research Field

応用昆虫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、農業害虫の防除には、環境に安全性が高く、標的害虫が限定される昆虫成長制御剤が多用される傾向がある。しかし、チョウ目昆虫の本剤における抵抗性発達は著しく、新規作用点を標的とした薬剤開発の重要性が示唆されている。本研究では、P450の一種であるCYP18A1がチョウ目昆虫の20E不活性化経路に関わり、ノックアウトすることで成長を阻害することが明らかとなった。このことから、チョウ目昆虫のCYP18A1を新規の標的とした薬剤開発の可能性が示唆された。