Klingler Martin, Bucher Gregor
Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
Evodevo. 2022 Jul 19;13(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s13227-022-00201-9.
The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum has emerged as an important insect model system for a variety of topics. With respect to studying gene function, it is second only to the vinegar fly D. melanogaster. The RNAi response in T. castaneum is exceptionally strong and systemic, and it appears to target all cell types and processes. Uniquely for emerging model organisms, T. castaneum offers the opportunity of performing time- and cost-efficient large-scale RNAi screening, based on commercially available dsRNAs targeting all genes, which are simply injected into the body cavity. Well established transgenic and genome editing approaches are met by ease of husbandry and a relatively short generation time. Consequently, a number of transgenic tools like UAS/Gal4, Cre/Lox, imaging lines and enhancer trap lines are already available. T. castaneum has been a genetic experimental system for decades and now has become a workhorse for molecular and reverse genetics as well as in vivo imaging. Many aspects of development and general biology are more insect-typical in this beetle compared to D. melanogaster. Thus, studying beetle orthologs of well-described fly genes has allowed macro-evolutionary comparisons in developmental processes such as axis formation, body segmentation, and appendage, head and brain development. Transgenic approaches have opened new ways for in vivo imaging. Moreover, this emerging model system is the first choice for research on processes that are not represented in the fly, or are difficult to study there, e.g. extraembryonic tissues, cryptonephridial organs, stink gland function, or dsRNA-based pesticides.
赤拟谷盗已成为用于多种研究主题的重要昆虫模型系统。在基因功能研究方面，它仅次于黑腹果蝇。赤拟谷盗中的RNAi反应异常强烈且具有系统性，似乎针对所有细胞类型和过程。对于新兴的模式生物而言，赤拟谷盗具有独特优势，基于可靶向所有基因的市售双链RNA，只需将其注入体腔，就能开展高效且经济的大规模RNAi筛选。易于饲养和较短的世代时间为已成熟的转基因和基因组编辑方法提供了便利。因此，现已具备多种转基因工具，如UAS/Gal4、Cre/Lox、成像品系和增强子捕获品系。几十年来，赤拟谷盗一直是遗传实验系统，如今已成为分子遗传学、反向遗传学以及体内成像研究的得力工具。与黑腹果蝇相比，这种甲虫在发育和一般生物学的许多方面更具昆虫典型特征。因此，研究果蝇中已明确的基因的甲虫直系同源基因，有助于在诸如轴形成、身体分节以及附肢、头部和大脑发育等发育过程中进行宏观进化比较。转基因方法为体内成像开辟了新途径。此外，这个新兴的模式系统是研究果蝇中未体现或难以在果蝇中研究的过程的首选，例如胚外组织、隐肾器官、臭腺功能或基于双链RNA的杀虫剂。
