MicroRNA let-7-5p targets the juvenile hormone primary response gene Krüppel homolog 1 and regulates reproductive diapause in Galeruca daurica

Disruption of microRNA pathway core genes inhibits molting and reproduction of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA (miRNA) pathway genes have been widely reported to participate in several physiological events in insect lifecycles. The cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne is an economically important storage pest worldwide. However, the functions of miRNA pathway genes in L. serricorne remain to be clarified. Herein, we investigated the function of molting and reproduction of the miRNA pathway in L. serricorne.

RESULTS

LsDicer-1, LsArgonaute-1, LsLoquacious and LsExportin-5 were universally expressed in adults, whereas LsPasha and LsDrosha were mainly expressed in the pupae. The genes presented different patterns in various tissues. Silencing of LsDicer-1, LsArgonaute-1, LsDrosha and LsExportin-5 resulted in a high proportion of wing deformities and molting defects. Silencing of LsDicer-1, LsArgonaute-1, LsPasha and LsLoquacious affected the development of the ovary and the maturation of oocytes, resulting in a significant decrease in fecundity. Further investigation revealed that the decreases in LsDicer-1 and LsArgonaute-1 expression destroyed follicular epithelia and delayed vitellogenesis and oocyte development. In addition, the expression levels of several miRNAs (let-7, let-7-5p, miR-8-3p, miR-8-5p, miR-9c-5p, miR-71, miR-252-5p, miR-277-3p, miR-263b and Novel-miR-50) were decreased significantly after knockdown of these miRNA pathway core genes, indicating that they played important roles in regulating miRNA-mediated gene expression.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that miRNA pathway genes play important roles in the molting, ovarian development and female fecundity of L. serricorne, and thus are potentially suitable target genes for developing an RNAi strategy against a major pest of stored products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sublethal effects of nitenpyram on the development of silkworm

The utilization of nitenpyram for aphid and whitefly control may induce environmental contamination and negative repercussions on non-target organisms. Formerly, we found that nitenpyram would pollute the peripheral and sub-peripheral areas of the adjacent mulberry orchard. Under acute toxicity conditions, nitenpyram induced oxidative damage in silkworms, affected biological metabolism, synthesis, immunity, and signal transduction. Considering the impact of nitenpyram mist drift on mulberry leaves, we investigated the effects of low concentrations of nitenpyram on silkworms. The results showed that silkworms exposed to 0.17 mg/L, 0.35 mg/L and 0.70 mg/L of nitenpyram (1/40 LC50, 1/20 LC50 and 1/10 LC50) showed obvious poisoning symptoms. The cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight decreased gradually with increases in the concentration, and these decreases prolonged the growth and development time of silkworms and induced the detoxification enzymes carboxylesterase (CarE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) to cope with the stress damage caused by nitenpyram. Exposure to low concentrations of nitenpyram downregulates genes involved in the drug metabolism-other enzymes and peroxisome pathway in silkworms. Additionally, through injection of miRNA mimics and inhibitors, we discovered that detoxifying enzyme pathway genes are influenced by bmo-miR-3382-3P, bmo-miR-3213-5P and bmo-miR-133, regulating the immune response of silkworms. This study provides an overall view of the toxicity and detoxification metabolism of nitenpyram in silkworm, and provides a reference for environmental assessment.

MicroRNA miR-285 modulates the metamorphosis in Galeruca daurica by targeting Br-C

BACKGROUND

Galeruca daurica has become a new pest on the Inner Mongolia grasslands since an abrupt outbreak in 2009 caused serious damage. As a pupa indicator during insect metamorphosis, the early response gene of the ecdysone signaling pathway, Broad-Complex (Br-C), plays a vital role in the growth and development of insects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which mediate various biological activities, but it is unknown whether and how Br-C is regulated by miRNAs.

RESULTS

Temporal expression profiles revealed that miR-285 and Br-C basically displayed an opposite trend during larval-adult development, and Br-C was sharply up-regulated on the last day of final-instar larvae while miR-285 was significantly down-regulated. Both dual-luciferase reporter assay and miRNA-mRNA interaction assay indicated that miR-285 interacts with the coding sequence of Br-C and represses its expression. Not only overexpression but also downexpression of miR-285 led to the failure of larval to pupal to adult metamorphosis. In addition, both overexpression of miR-285 and silence of Br-C inhibited the expression of Br-C and other ecdysone signaling pathway genes, including E74, E75, ECR, FTZ-F1, and HR3. On the contrary, suppressing miR-285 obtained opposite results. Further experiments showed that 20-hydroxyecdysone down-regulated miR-285 and up-regulated Br-C and above-mentioned genes, whereas juvenile hormone alalogue (JHA) resulted in opposite effects.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal that miR-285 is involved in mediating the metamorphosis in G. daurica by targeting Br-C in the ecdysone signaling pathway. miR-285 and its target Br-C could be as a potential target for G. daurica management. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

MicroRNA miR-7-5p targets MARK2 to control metamorphosis in Galeruca daurica

The MARK2 gene, coding microtubule affinity-regulating kinase or serine/threonine protein kinase, is an important modulator in organism microtubule generation and cell polarity. However, its role in the metamorphosis of insects remains unknown. In this study, we found a conserved miRNA, miR-7-5p, which targets MARK2 to participate in the regulation of the larval-pupal metamorphosis in Galeruca daurica. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-7-5p interacted with the 3' UTR of MARK2 and repressed its expression. The expression profiling of miR-7-5p and MARK2 displayed an opposite trend during the larval-adult development process. In in-vivo experiments, overexpression of miR-7-5p by injecting miR-7-5p agomir in the final instar larvae down-regulated MARK2 and up-regulated main ecdysone signaling pathway genes including E74, E75, ECR, FTZ-F1 and HR3, which was similar to the results from knockdown of MARK2 by RNAi. In contrast, repression of miR-7-5p by injecting miR-7-5p antagomir obtained opposite effects. Notably, both overexpression and repression of miR-7-5p in the final instar larvae caused abnormal molting and high mortality during the larval-pupal transition, and high mortality during the pupal-adult transition. The 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) injection experiment showed that 20E up-regulated miR-7-5p whereas down-regulated MARK2. This study reveals that the accurate regulation of miRNAs and their target genes is indispensable for insect metamorphosis.

Differential gene expression and microRNA profile in corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with weak juvenile hormone signalling

The corpora allata-corpora cardiaca (CA-CC) is an endocrine gland complex that regulates mosquito development and reproduction through the synthesis of juvenile hormone (JH). Epoxidase (Epox) is a key enzyme in the production of JH. We recently utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to establish an epoxidase-deficient (epox-/-) Aedes aegypti line. The CA from epox-/- mutants do not synthesize epoxidated JH III but methyl farneosate (MF), a weak agonist of the JH receptor, and therefore have reduced JH signalling. Illumina sequencing was used to examine the differences in gene expression between the CA-CC from wild type (WT) and epox-/- adult female mosquitoes. From 18,034 identified genes, 317 were significantly differentially expressed. These genes are involved in many biological processes, including the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, energy metabolism, and nutritional uptake. In addition, the same CA-CC samples were also used to examine the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of epox-/- and WT mosquitoes. A total of 197 miRNAs were detected, 24 of which were differentially regulated in epox-/- mutants. miRNA binding sites for these particular miRNAs were identified using an in silico approach; they target a total of 101 differentially expressed genes. Our results suggest that a lack of epoxidase, besides affecting JH synthesis, results in the diminishing of JH signalling that have significant effects on Ae. aegypti CA-CC transcriptome profiles, as well as its miRNA repertoire.

Identification and Characterization of Development-Related microRNAs in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in insect growth and development, but they were poorly studied in insects. In this study, a total of 883 miRNAs were detected from the early embryo (EE), late larva (LL), early pupa (EP), late pupa (LP), and early adult (EA) of Tribolium castaneum by microarray assay. Further analysis identified 179 differentially expressed unique miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) during these developmental stages. Of the DEmiRNAs, 102 DEmiRNAs exhibited stage-specific expression patterns during development, including 53 specifically highly expressed miRNAs and 20 lowly expressed miRNAs in EE, 19 highly expressed miRNAs in LL, 5 weakly expressed miRNAs in EP, and 5 abundantly expressed miRNAs in EA. These miRNAs were predicted to target 747, 265, 472, 234, and 121 genes, respectively. GO enrichment analysis indicates that the targets were enriched by protein phosphorylation, calcium ion binding, sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity, and cytoplasm. An RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the DEmiRNAs tca-miR-6-3p, tca-miR-9a-3p, tca-miR-9d-3p, tca-miR-11-3p, and tca-miR-13a-3p led to defects in metamorphosis and wing development of T. castaneum. This study has completed the identification and characterization of development-related miRNAs in T. castaneum, and will enable us to investigate their roles in the growth and development of insect.

MicroRNA miR-2765-3p regulates reproductive diapause by targeting FoxO in Galeruca daurica

The forkhead box O (FoxO), as a conserved transcription factor, plays an indispensable role in regulating insect diapause. However, how FoxO is regulated to control diapause in insects remains unknown. In this study, we discovered functional binding sites for miR-2765-3p in the 3' untranslated region of FoxO in Galeruca daurica. The luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-2765-3p targeted FoxO and suppressed its expression. The expression profiles of miR-2765-3p and FoxO displayed opposite patterns during the female developmental process. Overexpression of miR-2765-3p by the injection of the miR-2765-3p agomir into adult females reduced FoxO expression, leading to the suppression of lipid accumulation, promotion of ovarian development, and inhibition of reproductive diapause. This is similar to the phenotype that results from the depletion of FoxO by injecting dsFoxO into adult females. In addition, the repression of miR-2765-3p by injecting the miR-2765-3p antagomir increased the FoxO transcript level, leading to the stimulation of lipid accumulation, depression of ovarian development, and induction of reproductive diapause. A hormone injection assay showed that the juvenile hormone (JH) agonist (methoprene) upregulated miR-2765-3p and downregulated FoxO. Notably, injecting methoprene rescued ovarian development defects associated with miR-2765-3p inhibition. These findings indicate that the JH/miR-2765-3p/FoxO axis plays a vital role in the regulation of reproductive diapause in G. daurica.

Insect diapause: from a rich history to an exciting future

Diapause, a stage-specific developmental arrest, is widely exploited by insects to bridge unfavorable seasons. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the ecology, physiology and evolutionary implications of insect diapause, yet intriguing questions remain. A more complete understanding of diapause processes on Earth requires a better geographic spread of investigations, including more work in the tropics and at high latitudes. Questions surrounding energy management and trade-offs between diapause and non-diapause remain understudied. We know little about how maternal effects direct the diapause response, and regulators of prolonged diapause are also poorly understood. Numerous factors that were recently linked to diapause are still waiting to be placed in the regulatory network leading from photoreception to engagement of the diapause program. These factors include epigenetic processes and small noncoding RNAs, and emerging data also suggest a role for the microbiome in diapause regulation. Another intriguing feature of diapause is the complexity of the response, resulting in a diverse suite of responses that comprise the diapause syndrome. Select transcription factors likely serve as master switches turning on these diverse responses, but we are far from understanding the full complexity. The richness of species displaying diapause offers a platform for seeking common components of a 'diapause toolbox'. Across latitudes, during invasion events and in a changing climate, diapause offers grand opportunities to probe evolutionary change and speciation. At a practical level, diapause responses can be manipulated for insect control and long-term storage. Diapausing insects also contain a treasure trove of pharmacological compounds and offer promising models for human health.

RNA sequencing identifies an ovary-enriched microRNA, miR-311-3p, involved in ovarian development and fecundity by targeting Endophilin B1 in Bactrocera dorsalis

BACKGROUND

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is a highly invasive pest in East Asia and the Pacific. With the development of pesticides resistance, environment-friendly pesticides are urgently needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of numerous biological processes, including reproduction. Thus, it is significant to identify reproductive-related miRNAs in this notorious pest to facilitate its control, such as RNAi-based biopesticides targeting essential miRNAs.

RESULTS

A high-throughput sequencing was carried out to identify miRNAs involved in reproduction from the ovary and fat body at four developmental stages [1 day (d), 5, 9, and 13 days post-eclosion] in female B. dorsalis. Results showed that 98 and 74 miRNAs were differentially expressed in ovary and fat body, respectively, during sexual maturation. Gene ontology analysis showed that target genes involved in oogenesis and lipid particle accounted for 33% and 15% of the total targets, respectively. Among these differentially expressed miRNAs, we found by qPCR that miR-311-3p was enriched in the ovary and down-regulated during sexual maturation. Injection of agomir-miR-311-3p resulted in arrested ovarian development, reduced egg deposition and progeny viability. Endophilin B1 was confirmed to be the target of miR-311-3p, via dual-luciferase assay and expression profiling. Knockdown of Endophilin B1 resulted in reproductive defects similar to those caused by injection of miR-311-3p agomir. Thus, miR-311-3p might play a critical role in female reproduction by targeting Endophilin B1.

CONCLUSION

Our data not only provides knowledge on the abundance of reproductive-related miRNAs and target genes, but also promotes new control strategies for this pest. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Detection of ryanodine receptor G4911E and I4754M mutation sites and analysis of binding modes of diamide insecticides with RyR on Galeruca daurica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

In recent years, the leaf beetle Galeruca daurica has broken out in the northern grasslands of Inner Mongolia, its management still mainly depends on chemical control using traditional insecticides or with novel action. The study was aim to identify mutation locus associated with resistance to diamide insecticides in field population of G. daurica, to provide a reference for rational selection of insecticides and to avoid the rapid resistance development to diamide insecticides. We cloned the full length of the ryanodine receptor gene of G. daurica (GdRyR), constructed 3D model and transmembrane regions by homologous modeling based on deduced amino acid sequence. Two potential mutation loci (Gly4911Glu and Ile4754Met) and allelic mutation frequencies were detected in individuals of G. daurica. In addition, their binding patterns to two diamide insecticides (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole) were analyzed separately using a molecular docking method. The full-length cDNA sequence of GdRyR (GenBank accession number: OP828593) was obtained by splicing and assembling, which is 15,399 bp in length and encodes 5,133 amino acids. The amino acid similarity of GdRyR with that of other Coleopteran insects were 86.70%-91.33%, which possessed the typical structural characteristics. An individual resistance allelic mutation frequency test on fifty field leaf beetles has identified 12% and 32% heterozygous individuals at two potential mutation loci Gly4911Glu and Ile4754Met, respectively. The affinity of the I4754M mutant model of GdRyR for chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole was not significantly different from that of the wild type, and all had non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions and π-cation interactions. However, the G4911E mutant model showed reduced affinity and reduced mode of action with two diamide insecticides, thus affecting the binding stability of the ryanodine receptor to the diamide insecticides. In conclusion, the G4911E mutation in GdRyR may be a potential mechanism for the development of resistance to diamide insecticides on G. daurica and should be a key concern for resistance risk assessment and reasonable applications of diamide insecticides for control in future. Moreover, this study could provide a reference for ryanodine receptor structure-based insecticides design.

Evaluation of the Toxicity of Chemical and Biogenic Insecticides to Three Outbreaking Insects in Desert Steppes of Northern China

The locusts Oedales asiaticus (Bey-Bienko) and Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zubovski) (Orthoptera Acrididae) and the leaf beetle Galeruca daurica (Joannis) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are economically devastating insect species in the desert steppes of Northern China. Control is mainly and frequently dependent on highly toxic chemicals. To date, there have been no complete and comprehensive reports of insecticide applications to these key pests. In this study, laboratory bioassays were carried out to determine and compare the toxicity of twelve insecticides to three outbreaking insects, O. asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, from three typical desert steppe regions, SZWQ, XHQ and WLTQQ, respectively. The responses of the two locust species and the leaf beetle were evaluated by topical application and leaf dip bioassay techniques across a range of concentrations to develop dosage–mortality regressions. The insecticides tested included six chemical insecticides (β-cypermethrin, imidacloprid, phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, methomyl, chlorantraniliprole) and six biogenic insecticides (spinosad, avermectin, rotenone, matrine, azadiracthin, and methoxyfenozide). The results showed that phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, β-cypermethrin and spinosad showed highly toxic activity to O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, while methonyl, chlorantraniliprole, and rotenone were moderately toxic to both locust species and the leaf beetle. The LC₅₀ values of matrine, azadiractin, and avermectin were more than 1 μg a.i./adult for O. asiaticus and M. palpalis, the LC₅₀ values of which were higher 2 g/L for G. daurica. Our findings complement information from previous similar studies and will inform future studies relating to the control of outbreaking insects, such as O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica in desert steppes of northern China. This study is also expected to provide basic data on the use of chemical and biogenic insecticides for application in desert steppes.