Mechanism of insect cannibalism via chemical component of cuticular wax

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21304
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 39:Agricultural and environmental biology and related fields
• 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, 教授 (40345179)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 昆虫 / 共食い / 体表ワックス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we pursued the relationship between the cannibalism and the composition of cuticular wax (cuticular hydrocarbon; CHC) in the two-spotted cricket. The enzymes involved in CHC biosynthetic pathway (FAS, Desat, ELOVL, and P450) were identified. These enzymes had several subtypes, and then we examine currently whether they are involved in CHC.
In addition, aggressive and cannibalistic behaviors, which were thought to be observed mainly in adults, were found to be observed at any time in the life cycle in crickets. In particular, we were able to efficiently reproduce cannibalistic behavior during the nyphal stage due to differences in body size. If this cannibalistic behavior in the larval stage can be used as a bioassay, our researches on the relationship between cannibalism and CHC will be further progressed.

Free Research Field

分子認識化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

昆虫の体表ワックスは個体認識あるいは種を認識するためのセミオケミカルとして機能している。フタホシコオロギを用いた本研究により、体表ワックスが共食い行動においても使用されることが初めて示された。本研究で同定したCHC生合成酵素などは、今後、脂質合成酵素など、共食い研究や化学生態学的研究だけでなく、代謝の生化学的なアプローチを行う研究に貢献することが期待される。
また、昆虫の生態系や代謝に関する研究においてだけでなく、行動学や生理学的な「共食い行動」という本能行動を分子レベルで理解するために貢献すると考えられる。