Molecular Evolution and Sociobiology Group, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstr. 1, DE-48149, Münster, Germany.
Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California-Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3114, USA.
Heredity (Edinb). 2021 Feb;126(2):219-234. doi: 10.1038/s41437-020-00380-y. Epub 2020 Nov 2.
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have two fundamental functions in insects. They protect terrestrial insects against desiccation and serve as signaling molecules in a wide variety of chemical communication systems. It has been hypothesized that these pivotal dual traits for adaptation to both desiccation and signaling have contributed to the considerable evolutionary success of insects. CHCs have been extensively studied concerning their variation, behavioral impact, physiological properties, and chemical compositions. However, our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of CHC biosynthesis has remained limited and mostly biased towards one particular model organism (Drosophila). This rather narrow focus has hampered the establishment of a comprehensive view of CHC genetics across wider phylogenetic boundaries. This review attempts to integrate new insights and recent knowledge gained in the genetics of CHC biosynthesis, which is just beginning to incorporate work on more insect taxa beyond Drosophila. It is intended to provide a stepping stone towards a wider and more general understanding of the genetic mechanisms that gave rise to the astonishing diversity of CHC compounds across different insect taxa. Further research in this field is encouraged to aim at better discriminating conserved versus taxon-specific genetic elements underlying CHC variation. This will be instrumental in greatly expanding our knowledge of the origins and variation of genes governing the biosynthesis of these crucial phenotypic traits that have greatly impacted insect behavior, physiology, and evolution.
表皮碳氢化合物 (CHCs) 在昆虫中有两个基本功能。它们保护陆地昆虫免受干燥，并作为各种化学通讯系统中的信号分子。人们假设，这些适应干燥和信号的关键双重特征有助于昆虫的巨大进化成功。CHCs 的变异性、行为影响、生理特性和化学成分已经得到了广泛的研究。然而，我们对 CHC 生物合成的遗传基础的理解仍然有限，并且主要偏向于一个特定的模式生物（果蝇）。这种相当狭隘的焦点阻碍了在更广泛的系统发育边界内建立 CHC 遗传学的综合观点。这篇综述试图整合在 CHC 生物合成遗传学方面的新见解和最新知识，该领域才刚刚开始将果蝇以外的更多昆虫类群的工作纳入其中。它旨在为更广泛和更普遍地理解遗传机制提供一个踏脚石，这些遗传机制导致了不同昆虫类群中 CHC 化合物的惊人多样性。鼓励在该领域进行进一步的研究，以更好地区分 CHC 变异的保守和分类特异性遗传元件。这对于极大地扩展我们关于控制这些关键表型特征生物合成的基因的起源和变异的知识将是非常重要的，这些特征对昆虫的行为、生理和进化产生了巨大影响。
