Recent advances in Takeout protein family of insects

Key Words：Takeout protein, circadian rhythm, feeding, sensation, courtship, longevity

Abstract：        Takeout (TO) family is a big, insectspecific, protein family with a long evolutionary history. TOs are secretary proteins containing about 250 amino acids. Knowledge of the functions of these proteins is mostly derived from studies of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. TO proteins are abundantly distributed in several tissues related to chemical sense and nutrition, for example, antennae, tarsi, fat bodies and cardia. TO proteins are found in many insect species, such as flies, moths, mosquitoes, aphids, silkworms, honeybees, monarch butterflies and termites. So far, they are known to be involved in circadian rhythm, feeding, locomotion, chemical sensation, sexdetermination and male courtship behavior. Here, we summarize recent progress in TO proteins including structural characteristics, localization and expression, mechanism of action and physiological functions. Such knowledge should be helpful for entomological studies and pest management.