Wang Yan-Li, Yang Mei-Ling, Jiang Feng, Zhang Jian-Zhen, Kang Le
Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Insect Sci. 2013 Feb;20(1):53-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01542.x. Epub 2012 Jul 31.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, which participate in many biological processes. The small RNA transcriptome in the migratory locust has been characterized and 50 conserved miRNA families and 185 potential locust-specific miRNA family candidates have been identified using high-throughput sequencing. However, it is unclear whether miRNAs influence a wide variety of locusts' biological processes, such as growth or development. In insects, Dicer1 ribonuclease transforms miRNA precursors into mature miRNAs. Thus, using systemic RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of Dicer1 in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, we reduced miRNA contents in the locust and disrupted two types of molt (nymph-nymph, and nymph-adult). The RNAi of LmDicer1 also resulted in a high mortality in L. migratora. Our study revealed that LmDicer1 was essential for miRNA regulation and development of L. migratoria. These results further support our notion that LmDicer1 could serve as an excellent target for developing novel strategies for controlling this important insect pest.
微小RNA（miRNA）是一类小的非编码RNA，参与许多生物学过程。利用高通量测序技术，已对飞蝗的小RNA转录组进行了表征，并鉴定出50个保守的miRNA家族以及185个潜在的飞蝗特异性miRNA家族候选成员。然而，尚不清楚miRNA是否会影响飞蝗的多种生物学过程，如生长或发育。在昆虫中，Dicer1核糖核酸酶将miRNA前体转化为成熟的miRNA。因此，我们通过系统性RNA干扰（RNAi）使飞蝗（Locusta migratoria）中的Dicer1表达沉默，从而降低了飞蝗体内的miRNA含量，并扰乱了两种蜕皮类型（若虫-若虫，以及若虫-成虫）。LmDicer1的RNA干扰还导致飞蝗的高死亡率。我们的研究表明，LmDicer1对于飞蝗的miRNA调控和发育至关重要。这些结果进一步支持了我们的观点，即LmDicer1可作为开发控制这种重要害虫新策略中的一个理想靶点。
