动物群聚行为是自然界的一个普遍现象，飞蝗从散居到群居的型变可塑性是导致蝗灾形成和暴发的原因。神经递质如多巴胺代谢对飞蝗行为可塑性起关键控制作用，但其代谢通路调控的分子机制并不清楚。初步研究发现长非编码RNA（lncRNA）可能在飞蝗群、散两型分化中对基因表达起调控作用，但是lncRNA在神经递质代谢调节和表型可塑性控制方面的功能鲜有报道。本项目从基因组水平筛选在神经递质生成代谢或者信号转导通路中，与飞蝗型变可塑性相关的lncRNA。通过分子生物学、生物化学和行为学等方法，建立lncRNA-靶标基因（如苯丙氨酸羟化酶编码基因Henna）-型变可塑性三者的相关关系，并揭示调节过程中lncRNA-蛋白复合物相互关系。本研究首次尝试揭示lncRNA对神经递质合成代谢的调控机制，并建立lncRNA和动物行为可塑性的关系模型。该研究结果将对揭示飞蝗型变调节机制和指导蝗灾的控制有重要的理论和实践意义。

Animal aggregation is a common phenomenon in nature. Phase change from solitaria to gregaria is the major reason for locust outbreak. The metabolism of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, plays a central role in the control of locust phase change plasticity. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying the metabolic regulation. Preliminary study revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) may be involved into the regulation of phase state changes. Nevertheless it is rarely documented how the lncRNAs control the regulation of neurotransmitter metabolism and phase change plasticity. In this project we will investigate the lncRNAs involving in the regulation of neurotransmitters synthesis and downstream pathways, and modulation of locust phase change plasticity. We’ll establish the relationship between lncRNA-target gene (e.g., Henna)-phase change plasticity by using molecular, biochemical and behaviorial methods. Last, we’ll measure the protein-lncRNA complex poising for expresion regulation. Our study will be the first attempt to examine the regulatory role of lncRNA in neurotransmitter metabolisms, and will establish a model for studying relation between lncRNA and animal behavior. The findings are expected to reveal the regulatory mechanism for locust phase change and direct the control of locust plague.