Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
J Insect Physiol. 2010 Mar;56(3):227-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.10.004. Epub 2009 Oct 27.
RNA interference already proved its usefulness in functional genomic research on insects, but it also has considerable potential for the control of pest insects. For this purpose, the insect should be able to autonomously take up the dsRNA, for example through feeding and digestion in its midgut. In this review we bring together current knowledge on the uptake mechanisms of dsRNA in insects and the potential of RNAi to affect pest insects. At least two pathways for dsRNA uptake in insects are described: the transmembrane channel-mediated uptake mechanism based on Caenorhabditis elegans' SID-1 protein and an 'alternative' endocytosis-mediated uptake mechanism. In the second part of the review dsRNA feeding experiments on insects are brought together for the first time, highlighting the achievement of implementing RNAi in insect control with the first successful experiments in transgenic plants and the diversity of successfully tested insect orders/species and target genes. We conclude with points of discussion and concerns regarding further research on dsRNA uptake mechanisms and the promising application possibilities for RNAi in insect control.
RNA 干扰已经在昆虫的功能基因组研究中证明了其有用性，但它在害虫防治方面也具有相当大的潜力。为此，昆虫应该能够自主摄取 dsRNA，例如通过在中肠中进食和消化。在这篇综述中，我们汇集了目前关于昆虫摄取 dsRNA 的机制以及 RNAi 影响害虫的潜力的知识。至少有两种昆虫摄取 dsRNA 的途径：基于秀丽隐杆线虫 SID-1 蛋白的跨膜通道介导摄取机制和“替代”内吞介导摄取机制。在综述的第二部分，我们首次汇集了关于昆虫 dsRNA 喂养实验的信息，突出了在转基因植物中首次成功实施 RNAi 以控制昆虫的成就，以及成功测试的昆虫目/物种和靶基因的多样性。我们最后讨论了进一步研究 dsRNA 摄取机制以及 RNAi 在昆虫控制中具有前景的应用可能性的关注点和担忧。
