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Liu XG, Zhao T, Qiu QQ, Wang CK, Li TL, Liu XL, Wang L, Wang QQ, Zhou L. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the abdominal-B homeotic gene in the global pest, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39314071 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The Homeotic complex (Hox) genes play a crucial role in determining segment identity and appendage morphology in bilaterian animals along the antero-posterior axis. Recent studies have expanded to agricultural pests such as fall armyworm (FAW), scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which significantly threatens global agricultural productivity. However, the specific role of the hox gene Sfabd-B in FAW remains unexplored. This research investigates the spatial and temporal expression patterns of Sfabd-B in various tissues at different developmental stages using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, we explored the potential function of the Sfabd-B gene located in the FAW genome using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The larval mutant phenotypes can be classified into three subgroups as compared with wild-type individuals, that is, an excess of pedis in the posterior abdomen, deficient pedis due to segmental fusion and deviations in the posterior abdominal segments. Importantly, significant differences in mutant phenotypes between male and female individuals were also evident during the pupal and adult phases. Notably, both the decapentaplegic (dpp) and cuticular protein 12 (cp 12) genes displayed a substantial marked decrease in expression levels in the copulatory organ of male mutants and the ovipositor of female mutants compared with the wild type. These findings highlight the importance of Sfabd-B in genital tract patterning, providing a potential target for improving genetic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Guang Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Te Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qi-Qi Qiu
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Cong-Ke Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tian-Liang Li
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Long Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qin-Qin Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Green Pesticide Creation Engineering Technology Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of New Pesticide Development and Application, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Pesticide Department of the College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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Liu BP, Hua BZ. Distinct roles of the Hox genes Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A in scorpionfly embryonic proleg development. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:69-80. [PMID: 37792400 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The abdominal appendages of larval insects have a complex evolutionary history of gain and loss, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying the abdominal appendage development remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the embryogenesis of abdominal prolegs in the scorpionfly Panorpa liui Hua (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) using in situ hybridization and parental RNA interference. The results show that RNAi-mediated knockdown of Ultrabithorax (Ubx) led to a homeotic transformation of the first abdominal segment (A1) into the third thoracic segment (T3) and changed the distributions of the downstream target Distal-less (Dll) expression but did not affect the expression levels of Dll. Knockdown of abdominal-A (abd-A) resulted in malformed segments, abnormal prolegs and disrupted Dll expression. The results demonstrate that the gene Ubx maintains an ancestral role of modulating A1 appendage fate without preventing Dll initiation, and a secondary adaptation of abd-A evolves the ability to specify abdominal segments and proleg identity. We conclude that changes in abdominal Hox gene expression and their target genes regulate abdominal appendage morphology during the evolutionary course of holometabolous larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Bao-Zhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Matsuoka Y, Murugesan SN, Prakash A, Monteiro A. Lepidopteran prolegs are novel traits, not leg homologs. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd9389. [PMID: 37824626 PMCID: PMC10569709 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add9389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Lepidopteran larvae have both thoracic legs and abdominal prolegs, yet it is unclear whether these are serial homologs. A RNA-seq analysis with various appendages of Bicyclus anynana butterfly larvae indicated that the proleg transcriptome resembles the head-horn transcriptome, a novel trait in the lepidoptera, but not a thoracic leg. Under a partial segment abdominal-A (abd-A) knockout, both thoracic leg homologs (pleuropodia) and prolegs developed in the same segment, arguing that both traits are not serial homologs. Further, three of the four coxal marker genes, Sp5, Sp6-9, and araucan, were absent from prolegs, but two endite marker genes, gooseberry and Distal-less, were expressed in prolegs, suggesting that prolegs may be using a modular endite gene-regulatory network (GRN) for their development. We propose that larval prolegs are novel traits derived from the activation of a pre-existing modular endite GRN in the abdomen using abd-A, the same Hox gene that still represses legs in more lateral positions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suriya Narayanan Murugesan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore; 14 Science Drive, Singapore 117543 Singapore
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Guo H, Liu XZ, Long GJ, Gong LL, Zhang MQ, Ma YF, Hull JJ, Dewer Y, He M, He P. Functional characterization of developmentally critical genes in the white-backed planthopper: Efficacy of nanoparticle-based dsRNA sprays for pest control. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:1048-1061. [PMID: 36325939 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), zinc finger homeodomain-2 (zfh-2), Abdominal-A (Abd-A), and Abdominal-B (Abd-B) regulate the growth and development of the insect abdomen. However, their potential roles in pest control have not been fully assessed. The development of insecticide resistance to multiple chemistries in the white-backed planthopper (WBPH), a major pest of rice, has prompted interest in novel pest control approaches that are ecologically friendly. Although pest management approaches based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) have potential, their susceptibility to degradation limits large-scale field applications. These limitations, however, can be overcome with nanoparticle-dsRNA complexes that have greater environmental stability and improved cellular uptake. RESULTS In this study, at 5 days post-injection, transcripts for the four gene targets were reduced relative to controls and all of the experimental groups exhibited significant phenotypic defects and increased mortality. To evaluate the potential of these gene targets for field applications, a nanocarrier-dsRNA spray delivery system was assessed for RNAi efficacy. At 11 days post-spray, significant phenotypic defects and increased mortality were observed in all experimental groups. CONCLUSION Taken together, the results confirm the suitability of the target genes (SfEGFR, Sfzfh-2, SfAbd-A, and SfAbd-B) for pest management and demonstrate the efficacy of the nanocarrier spray system for inducing RNAi-mediated knockdown. As such, the study lays the foundation for the further development and optimization of this technology for large-scale field applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Guo
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Xuan-Zheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Gui-Jun Long
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Lang-Lang Gong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Meng-Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Yun-Feng Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - J Joe Hull
- Pest Management and Biocontrol Research Unit, US Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Services, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Youssef Dewer
- Phytotoxicity Research Department, Central Agricultural Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ming He
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
| | - Peng He
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China
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Liu BP, Ding G, Miao Y, Hua BZ. The Hox gene Abdominal-B regulates the appendage development during the embryogenesis of scorpionflies. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:609-619. [PMID: 35575115 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Homeotic Complex (Hox) genes encode conserved homeodomain transcription factors that specify segment identity and appendage morphology along the antero-posterior axis in bilaterian animals. The Hox gene Abdominal-B (Abd-B) is mainly expressed in the posterior segments of the abdomen and plays an important role in insect organogenesis. In Mecoptera, the potential function of this gene remains unclear yet. Here, we performed a de novo transcriptome assembly and identified an Abd-B ortholog in the scorpionfly Panorpa liui. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR showed that Abd-B expression increased gradually in embryos 76 h post oviposition, and was mainly present in the more posterior abdominal segments. Embryonic RNA interference of Abd-B resulted in a set of abnormalities, including developmental arrest, malformed suckers and misspecification of posterior segment identity. These results suggest that Abd-B is required for the proper development of the posterior abdomen. Furthermore, in Abd-B RNAi embryos, the expression of the appendage marker Distal-less (Dll) was up-regulated and was additionally present on abdominal segments IX and X compared with wild embryos, suggesting that scorpionfly Abd-B may act to suppress proleg development and has gained the ability to repress Dll expression on the more posterior abdominal segments. This study provides additional information on both the functional and evolutionary roles of Abd-B across different insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guo Ding
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying Miao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bao-Zhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Expression of Abdominal-B in the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, expands our evolutionary understanding of the crustacean abdomen. Dev Biol 2022; 489:178-184. [PMID: 35732224 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, has a body plan composed of 11 thoracic segments, followed by 2 genital segments, and then 6 additional abdominal segments. Previous studies of Artemia reported that expression of the posterior-most Hox gene, Abdominal-B (Abd-B), is restricted to the genital segments and is not observed posteriorly in the abdomen at any developmental stage. This report was remarkable because it suggested that the Artemia abdomen posterior to the genital segments was a novel body region of 6 segments that bore no homology to any region in other crustaceans and was unique amongst arthropods in being a Hox-free segmented domain outside of the head. In this study, we used RT-PCR, antibody staining, and in situ hybridization on various stages of Artemia nauplii to show that Abd-B mRNA and protein are in fact expressed throughout the abdominal segments during Artemia development, but this expression later retracts to the two genital segments (G1, G2) and the T11 appendages. This suggests that Abd-B does play a role in specifying abdominal segment identity in all crustaceans that have been examined and suggests a common evolutionary origin for the crustacean abdomen.
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Liu H, Heng J, Wang L, Li Y, Tang X, Huang X, Xia Q, Zhao P. Homeodomain proteins POU-M2, antennapedia and abdominal-B are involved in regulation of the segment-specific expression of the clip-domain serine protease gene CLIP13 in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:111-127. [PMID: 33860633 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Clip-domain serine proteases (CLIPs) play important roles in insect innate immunity and development. Our previous studies indicated that CLIP13, an epidermis-specific gene, was involved in cuticle remodeling during molting and metamorphosis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism and regulatory pathways of CLIP13 remained unclear. In the present study, we investigated CLIP13 expression and the regulation pathway controlled by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in the silkworm. At the transcriptional level, expression of CLIP13 exhibited pronounced spatial and temporal specificity in different regions of the epidermis; homeodomain transcription factors POU-M2, antennapedia (Antp), and abdominal-B (Abd-B) showed similar expression change trends as CLIP13 in the head capsule, thorax, and abdomen, respectively. Furthermore, results of cell transfection assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that POU-M2, Antp, and Abd-B were involved in the transcriptional regulation of CLIP13 by directly binding to their cis-response elements in CLIP13 promoter. RNA interference-mediated silencing of POU-M2, Antp, and Abd-B led to a decrease of CLIP13 expression in the head capsule, the epidermis of the 1st to 3rd thoracic segments and the 7th to 10th abdominal segments, respectively. Consistent with CLIP13, 20E treatment significantly upregulated expression of POU-M2, Antp, and Abd-B in the silkworm epidermis. Taken together, these data suggest that 20E positively regulates transcription of CLIP13 via homeodomain proteins POU-M2, Antp, and Abd-B in different regions of the silkworm epidermis during metamorphosis, thus affecting the molting process. Our findings provide new insight into the functions of homeodomain transcription factors in insect molting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Jingya Heng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Luoling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Youshan Li
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, 723001, China
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Xuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
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You L, Zhang F, Huang S, Merchant A, Zhou X, Li Z. Over-expression of RNA interference (RNAi) core machinery improves susceptibility to RNAi in silkworm larvae. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 29:353-362. [PMID: 32086963 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi), one of the strategies that organisms use to defend against invading viruses, is an important tool for functional genomic analysis. In insects, the efficacy of RNAi varies amongst taxa. Lepidopteran insects are, in large part, recalcitrant to RNAi. The overall goal of this study is to overcome such insensitivity in lepidopterans to RNAi. We hypothesize that over-expression of core RNAi machinery enzymes can improve RNAi efficacy in traditionally recalcitrant species. A transgenic Bombyx mori strain, Baculovirus Immediate-Early Gene, ie1, promoter driven expression of silkworm Dicer2 coding sequence (IE1-BmDicer2), which over-expresses BmDicer2, was generated by piggyBac transposon-mediated transgenesis. Two indexes, the ratio of animals that showed a silencing phenotype and the duration of silencing, were used to evaluate silencing efficiency. Significant knockdown of target gene expression was observed at 48 h postinjection at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Furthermore, we coexpressed B. mori Argonaute 2 BmAgo2)and BmDicer 2 and found that 22% of the animals (n = 18) showed an obvious silencing effect even at 72 h, suggesting that coexpression of these two RNAi core machinery enzymes further increased the susceptibility of B. mori to injected double-stranded RNAs. This study offers a new strategy for functional genomics research in RNAi-refractory insect taxa in general and for lepidopterans in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- L You
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - F Zhang
- School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - S Huang
- Agricultrual and Medical Biotechnology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - A Merchant
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - X Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Z Li
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Santos-Ortega Y, Killiny N. Silencing of sucrose hydrolase causes nymph mortality and disturbs adult osmotic homeostasis in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 101:131-143. [PMID: 30205149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant piercing sucking insects mainly feed on phloem sap containing a high amount of sucrose. To enhance the absorption of sucrose from the midgut, sucrose hydrolase digests sucrose into glucose and fructose. In this study, a sucrose hydrolase homolog (DcSuh) was identified and targeted in Diaphorina citri, the vector of huanglongbing (HLB), by RNA interference (RNAi). In silico analysis revealed the presence of an Aamy domain in the DcSUH protein, which is characteristic of the glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13). Phylogenetic analysis showed DcSuh was closely related to the sucrose hydrolase of other Hemiptera members. The highest gene expression levels of DcSuh was found in the 4th and 5th instar nymphs. dsRNA-mediated RNAi of DcSuh was achieved through topical feeding. Our results showed that application of 0.2 μL of 500 ng μL-1 (100 ng) dsRNA-DcSuh was sufficient to repress the expression of the targeted gene and cause nymph mortality and reduce adult lifespan. The reduction in gene expression, mortality, and lifespan was dose-dependent. In agreement with the gene expression results, treatment with dsRNA-DcSuh significantly reduced sucrose hydrolase activity in treated nymphs and emerged adults from treated nymphs. Interestingly, some emerged adults from treated nymphs showed a swollen abdomen phenotype, indicating that these insects were under osmotic stress. Although the percentage of swollen abdomens was low, their incidence was significantly correlated with the concentration of applied dsRNA-DcSuh. Metabolomic analyses using GC-MS showed an accumulation of sucrose and a reduction in fructose, glucose and trehalose in treated nymphs, confirming the inhibition of sucrose hydrolase activity. Additionally, most of the secondary metabolites were reduced in the treated nymphs, indicating a reduction in the biological activities in D. citri and that they are under stress. Our findings indicate that sucrose hydrolase might be a potential target for effective RNAi control of D. citri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulica Santos-Ortega
- Department of Plant Pathology, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Nabil Killiny
- Department of Plant Pathology, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA.
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Wang J, Gu L, Knipple DC. Evaluation of some potential target genes and methods for RNAi-mediated pest control of the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 149:67-72. [PMID: 30033018 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we explored the efficacy of knockdown four genes required for proper nervous system function by RNAi, in the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Three of these genes encode components of validated insecticide target sites. We synthesized cDNA sequences orthologous to the Drosophila melanogaster genes Para (paralyticts), TipE (temperature-induced paralysis locus E), GluCl (glutamate-gated chloride channel), and Notch, and used these fragments to synthesize double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). We then performed experiments in an attempt to induce RNAi-mediated effects on gene expression and viability using three modes of delivery of the dsRNAs: microinjection of eggs, soaking of eggs and feeding of larvae. Microinjection of dsRNAs into eggs induced reduced hatch rates and knockdown of target gene expression for GluCl, para and TipE, but not for Notch. However, neither feeding nor soaking eggs in dsRNA solutions resulted in discernable RNAi effects. These results demonstrated the susceptibility to RNAi effects of the expression of H. zea genes encoding insecticide target sites, which suggests future avenues of research toward practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinda Wang
- National Engineering and Research Center of Sugarcane, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China; Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456, USA; College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Liuqi Gu
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456, USA.
| | - Douglas C Knipple
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
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He Y, Deng H, Hu Q, Zhu Z, Liu L, Zheng S, Song Q, Feng Q. Identification of the binding domains and key amino acids for the interaction of the transcription factors BmPOUM2 and BmAbd-A in Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 81:41-50. [PMID: 27986639 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor BmPOUM2 interacted with another transcription factor BmAbd-A to regulate the expression of the wing cuticle protein gene BmWCP4 in Bombyx mori. In this study, the binding domains and amino acids for the interaction between BmPOUM2 and BmAbd-A were reported. Two isoforms of BmPOUM2 were identified. The short isoform (BmPOUM2-S) lacks a 114-amino acid sequence containing a POU-homeodomain and a nuclear localization signal peptide (NLS), as compared to the full-length isoform (BmPOUM2). Both BmPOUM2 and BmPOUM2-S proteins bound to the BmAbd-A through the POU-specific domain. When the six amino acids (Lys166, Gly173, Gln176, Ser192, Glu200 and Asn208) that are highly conserved in POU family genes were mutated, BmPOUM2 did not bind to BmAbd-A. BmAbd-A interacted with BmPOUM2 by the homeobox domain or the LCR2 (low complexity region) domain. When seven amino acids (Phe156/248, His158/250, Ala175/263, Cys180/265, Glu190/268, Trp196/274 and Val214/289) that are shared in the homeobox and LCR2 domains were mutated, BmAbd-A did not bind to BmPOUM2. Overexpression of either BmPOUM2 or BmAbd-A or both increased the activity of BmWCP4 promoter in CHO cells. ChIP assay and EMSA showed that BmAbd-A protein bound to the Hox cis-regulatory element in the BmWCP4 promoter, while the BmPOUM2 bound to the nearby POU CRE. A model for the interaction and action of BmPOUM2 and BmAbd-A in regulation of the BmWCP4 expression is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong He
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Huimin Deng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
| | - Qihao Hu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zidan Zhu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Sichun Zheng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qili Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
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12
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Tong XL, Fu MY, Chen P, Chen L, Xiang ZH, Lu C, Dai FY. Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A specify the abdominal appendage in a dosage-dependent manner in silkworm, Bombyx mori. Heredity (Edinb) 2017; 118:578-584. [PMID: 28121309 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In insects, there is a considerable diversity in leg distribution on the body, including number, segmental arrangement, morphological identity and consequent function, but the genetic basis for these differences is not well understood. Here by positional cloning, we showed that a ~355 kb region, including Bombyx mori Ultrabithorax (BmUbx) and abdominal-A (Bmabd-A), was responsible for the silkworm mutant Kh-extra-crescents-like (EKh-l) that displayed additional thoracic limb-like legs on the first abdominal segment (A1) and occasionally on the second abdominal segment (A2). We found that BmUbx gene was downregulated at both messenger RNA level and protein level in EKh-l embryo, while its expression domain in the EKh-l embryo was almost the same as that in the wild type. Whereas Bmabd-A was upregulated at both levels and was ectopically overexpressed on the supernumerary leg-bearing segments in EKh-l. Compared with the previously reported Ecs-l mutant in which increased expression of both BmUbx and Bmabd-A gave rise to ectopic proleg-like appendages on the same segments, we propose that overexpressed Bmabd-A gene is capable to promote the outgrowth of extra leg appendages on A1 and A2 segments, whereas BmUbx gene is required to specify accurate morphologies of the ectopic legs in a dosage-dependent manner in silkworm. These results provide insights into how these hox genes regulate the leg morphologic diversity on the same segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- X L Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - M Y Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - P Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - L Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Z H Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - C Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - F Y Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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13
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Wang H, Tong X, Liu M, Hu H, Li Z, Xiang Z, Dai F, Lu C. Fine Mapping of a Degenerated Abdominal Legs Mutant (Edl) in Silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169224. [PMID: 28081147 PMCID: PMC5231277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In insects, abdominal appendages, also called prolegs, vary due to adaptive evolution. Mutations on prolegs within species provide insights to better understand the mechanisms underlying appendage development and diversity. In silkworm Bombyx mori, extra-crescents and degenerated abdominal legs (Edl) mutant, belonging to the E pseudoallele group, is a spontaneous mutation that adds crescents and degenerates prolegs on the third abdominal segment (A3). This mutation may be a homeotic transformation of A3 to A2. In this study, the Edl locus was mapped within approximately a 211 Kb region that is 10 Kb upstream of Bmabdominal-A (Bmabd-A). RT-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis of Bmabd-A expression showed a slight but significant decrease, while the expression of BmUltrabithorax (BmUbx) was up-regulated in the Edl mutant compared to wildtype (Dazao). Moreover, we also found that BmDistal-less (BmDll), which regulated the development of distal proleg structures, was missing at the tips of the A3 prolegs in the Edl mutant compared to BmDll expression in normally developed prolegs in both the wildtype and mutant. Collectively, we identified approximately a 211 Kb region in the Edl locus that regulates BmUbx and Bmabd-A expression and found that changes in BmUbx and Bmabd-A expression may lead to the loss of distal proleg structures in B. mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoling Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Meijing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhonghuai Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangyin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail: (FD); (CL)
| | - Cheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail: (FD); (CL)
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14
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Takiya S, Tsubota T, Kimoto M. Regulation of Silk Genes by Hox and Homeodomain Proteins in the Terminal Differentiated Silk Gland of the Silkworm Bombyx mori. J Dev Biol 2016; 4:E19. [PMID: 29615585 PMCID: PMC5831788 DOI: 10.3390/jdb4020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The silk gland of the silkworm Bombyx mori is a long tubular organ that is divided into several subparts along its anteroposterior (AP) axis. As a trait of terminal differentiation of the silk gland, several silk protein genes are expressed with unique regional specificities. Most of the Hox and some of the homeobox genes are also expressed in the differentiated silk gland with regional specificities. The expression patterns of Hox genes in the silk gland roughly correspond to those in embryogenesis showing "colinearity". The central Hox class protein Antennapedia (Antp) directly regulates the expression of several middle silk gland-specific silk genes, whereas the Lin-1/Isl-1/Mec3 (LIM)-homeodomain transcriptional factor Arrowhead (Awh) regulates the expression of posterior silk gland-specific genes for silk fiber proteins. We summarize our results and discuss the usefulness of the silk gland of Bombyx mori for analyzing the function of Hox genes. Further analyses of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the region-specific expression of silk genes will provide novel insights into the molecular bases for target-gene selection and regulation by Hox and homeodomain proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeharu Takiya
- Shigeharu Takiya, Division of Biological Sciences and Center for Genome Dynamics, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, North 10, West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan.
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, North 10, West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
| | - Takuya Tsubota
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
| | - Mai Kimoto
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, North 10, West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
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15
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Kou LX, Hua BZ. Comparative embryogenesis of Mecoptera and Lepidoptera with special reference to the abdominal prolegs. J Morphol 2016; 277:585-93. [PMID: 26891764 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The eruciform larvae of holometabolous insects are primarily characterized by bearing a varying number of abdominal prolegs in addition to three pairs of thoracic legs. However, whether the prolegs are evolutionarily homologous among different insect orders is still a disputable issue. We examined the embryonic features and histological structure of the prolegs of the scorpionfly Panorpa byersi Hua and Huang (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to investigate whether the prolegs are homologous between these two holometabolous insect orders. In the scorpionfly, paired lateral process primordia arise on abdominal segments I-VIII (A1-A8) in line with the thoracic legs in early embryonic stages, but degenerate into triangular protuberances in later stages, and paired medial processes appear along the midventral line before dorsal closure and eventually develop into unjointed, cone-shaped prolegs. Histological observation showed that the lumina of the prolegs are not continuous with the hemocoel, differing distinctly from that of the basic appendicular plan of thoracic legs. These results suggest that the prolegs are likely secondary outgrowths in Mecoptera. In the armyworm, lateral process primordia appear on A1-A10 in alignment with the thoracic legs in the early embryonic stages, although only the rudiments on A3-A6 and A10 develop into segmented prolegs with the lumina continuous with the hemocoel and others degenerate eventually, suggesting that the prolegs are true segmental appendages serially homologous with the thoracic legs in Lepidoptera. Therefore, we conclude that the larval prolegs are likely not evolutionarily homologous between Mecoptera and Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xuan Kou
- Department of Entomology, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Entomological Museum, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Bao-Zhen Hua
- Department of Entomology, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Entomological Museum, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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16
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Outbred genome sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in butterflies. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8212. [PMID: 26354079 PMCID: PMC4568561 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Butterflies are exceptionally diverse but their potential as an experimental system has been limited by the difficulty of deciphering heterozygous genomes and a lack of genetic manipulation technology. Here we use a hybrid assembly approach to construct high-quality reference genomes for Papilio xuthus (contig and scaffold N50: 492 kb, 3.4 Mb) and Papilio machaon (contig and scaffold N50: 81 kb, 1.15 Mb), highly heterozygous species that differ in host plant affiliations, and adult and larval colour patterns. Integrating comparative genomics and analyses of gene expression yields multiple insights into butterfly evolution, including potential roles of specific genes in recent diversification. To functionally test gene function, we develop an efficient (up to 92.5%) CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing method that yields obvious phenotypes with three genes, Abdominal-B, ebony and frizzled. Our results provide valuable genomic and technological resources for butterflies and unlock their potential as a genetic model system. Butterflies are a promising system to study the genetics and evolution of morphological diversification, yet genomic and technological resources are limited. Here, the authors sequence genomes of two Papilio butterflies and develop a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing method for these species.
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17
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Stansbury MS, Moczek AP. The function of Hox and appendage-patterning genes in the development of an evolutionary novelty, the Photuris firefly lantern. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20133333. [PMID: 24648226 PMCID: PMC3973271 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncovering the mechanisms underlying the evolution of novel traits is a central challenge in biology. The lanterns of fireflies are complex traits that lack even remote homology to structures outside luminescent beetle families. Representing unambiguous novelties by the strictest definition, their developmental underpinnings may provide clues to their origin and offer insights into the mechanisms of innovation in developmental evolution. Lanterns develop within the context of abdominal Hox expression domains, and we hypothesized that lantern formation may be instructed in part by these highly conserved transcription factors. We show that transcript depletion of Abdominal-B in Photuris fireflies results in extensive disruption of the adult lantern, suggesting that the evolution of adult lanterns involved the acquisition of a novel regulatory role for this Hox gene. Using the same approach, we show that the Hox gene abdominal-A may control important secondary aspects of lantern development. Lastly, we hypothesized that lantern evolution may have involved the recruitment of dormant abdominal appendage-patterning domains; however, transcript depletion of two genes, Distal-less and dachshund, suggests that they do not contribute to lantern development. Our results suggest that complex novelties can arise within the confines of ancestral regulatory landscapes through acquisition of novel targets without compromising ancestral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Stansbury
- Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, 1007 East Lowell Street, PO Box 210106, Tucson, AZ 85721-0106, USA
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East 3rd St., Jordan Hall 142, Bloomington, IN 47405-7005, USA
| | - Armin P. Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East 3rd St., Jordan Hall 142, Bloomington, IN 47405-7005, USA
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18
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Duan J, Xu H, Ma S, Guo H, Wang F, Zhang L, Zha X, Zhao P, Xia Q. Ectopic expression of the male BmDSX affects formation of the chitin plate in female Bombyx mori. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 81:240-7. [PMID: 24420266 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mating structures are involved in successful copulation, intromission, and/or insemination. These structures enable tight coupling between external genitalia of two sexes. During Bombyx mori copulation, the double harpagones in the external genitalia of males clasp the female chitin plate, which is derived from the larval eighth abdominal segment; abnormal development of the female chitin plate affects copulation. We report that ERK phosphorylation (p-ERK) and expression of Abdominal-B (Abd-B) in the posterior abdomen of the female adult is lower than in the male. Ectopic expression of the male-specific spliced form of B. mori doublesex (Bmdsx(M)) in females, however, up-regulates Abd-B and spitz (spi) expression, increasing EGFR signaling activity, and thus forming an abnormal chitin plate and reduced female copulation. These findings indicate that Bmdsx affects the development of the eighth abdominal segment by regulating the activity of EGFR signaling and the expression of Abd-B, resulting in an extra eighth abdominal segment (A8) in males versus the loss of this segment in adult females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China; China-UK Nanyang Normal University-Rothamsted Research Joint Laboratory of Insect Biology, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Funiu Mountain Insect Biology, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, People's Republic of China
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19
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Konopova B, Akam M. The Hox genes Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A specify three different types of abdominal appendage in the springtail Orchesella cincta (Collembola). EvoDevo 2014; 5:2. [PMID: 24398075 PMCID: PMC3910676 DOI: 10.1186/2041-9139-5-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Drosophila and many other insects, the Hox genes Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and abdominal-A (abd-A) suppress limb formation on most or all segments of the abdomen. However, a number of basal hexapod lineages retain multiple appendages on the abdomen. In the collembolans or springtails, three abdominal segments develop specialized organs that originate from paired appendage primordia which fuse at the midline: the first abdominal segment bears the collophore (ventral tube), involved in osmoregulation; the fourth segment bears the furca, the leaping organ, and the third segment bears the retinaculum, which retains the furca at rest. Ubx and abd-A are known to be expressed in the springtail abdomen, but what role they play in specifying these distinct abdominal appendages is not known. This is largely because no genetic model has been established in collembolans or any other non-insect hexapod. Results We have developed a convenient method for laboratory culture of the collembolan Orchesella cincta on defined media, a method for in-situ hybridization to embryos and a procedure for gene knockdown by parental injection of double-stranded RNA (RNAi). We show that Orchesella Ubx transcripts are detectable in the first to third abdominal segments, and abd-A transcripts in the second to fourth segments. Knockdown of Oc-Ubx leads to the homeotic transformation of the collophore into a pair of walking legs (a more anterior identity) but the retinaculum into a furca (a more posterior identity). Knockdown of Oc-abd-A leads to the transformation of the retinaculum into a collophore and of the furca into legs (both anterior transformations). Simultaneous silencing of both Oc-Ubx and Oc-abd-A transformed all three of these appendages into paired legs, but did not cause appendages to develop on the second, or on the most posterior abdominal segments. Conclusions We conclude that, in Orchesella, Oc-Ubx alone specifies the collophore on the first and Oc-abd-A alone specifies the furca on the fourth abdominal segment. Oc-Ubx and Oc-abd-A function together, apparently combinatorially, to specify the retinaculum on the third segment. The efficiency of RNAi in Orchesella makes this an attractive model for further genetic studies of development and physiology in basal hexapods. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2041-9139-5-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Konopova
- Laboratory for Development and Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
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20
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Shen D, Zhou F, Xu Z, He B, Li M, Shen J, Yin M, An C. Systemically interfering with immune response by a fluorescent cationic dendrimer delivered gene suppression. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:4653-4659. [DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00411f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A water-soluble, fluorescent, cationic dendrimer systemically delivers dsRNA into insect cells and tissues, resulting in the suppression of the immune gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Shen
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Fan Zhou
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Zejun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers
- Ministry of Education
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- 100029 Beijing, China
| | - Bicheng He
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Meizhen Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers
- Ministry of Education
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- 100029 Beijing, China
| | - Chunju An
- Department of Entomology
- China Agricultural University
- 100193 Beijing, China
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21
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Chen P, Tong XL, Li DD, Liang PF, Fu MY, Li CF, Hu H, Xiang ZH, Lu C, Dai FY. Fine mapping of a supernumerary proleg mutant (E(Cs) -l) and comparative expression analysis of the abdominal-A gene in silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 22:497-504. [PMID: 23803144 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Patterning and phenotypic variations of appendages in insects provide important clues on developmental genetics. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, morphological variations associated with the E complex, an analogue of the Drosophila melanogaster bithorax complex, mainly determine the shape and number of prolegs on abdominal segments. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the allele responsible for the supernumerary crescents and legs-like (E(Cs) -l) mutant, a model derived from spontaneous mutation of the E complex, with supernumerary legs and extra crescents. Fine mapping with 1605 individuals revealed a ∼68 kb sequence in the upstream intergenic region of B. mori abdominal-A (Bmabd-A) clustered with the E(Cs) -l locus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analyses disclosed a marked increase in Bmabd-A expression in the E(Cs) -l mutant at both the transcriptional and translational levels, compared to wild-type Dazao. Furthermore, we observed ectopic expression of the Bmabd-A protein in the second abdominal segment (A2) of the E(Cs) -l mutant. Our results collectively suggest that the 68 kb region contains important regulatory elements of the Bmabd-A gene, and provide evidence that the gene is required for limb development in abdominal segments in the silkworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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22
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El-Shesheny I, Hajeri S, El-Hawary I, Gowda S, Killiny N. Silencing abnormal wing disc gene of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri disrupts adult wing development and increases nymph mortality. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65392. [PMID: 23734251 PMCID: PMC3667074 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huanglongbing (HLB) causes considerable economic losses to citrus industries worldwide. Its management depends on controlling of the Asian citrus Psyllid (ACP), the vector of the bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of HLB. Silencing genes by RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising tool to explore gene functions as well as control pests. In the current study, abnormal wing disc (awd) gene associated with wing development in insects is used to interfere with the flight of psyllids. Our study showed that transcription of awd is development-dependent and the highest level was found in the last instar (5(th)) of the nymphal stage. Micro-application (topical application) of dsRNA to 5(th) instar of nymphs caused significant nymphal mortality and adult wing-malformation. These adverse effects in ACP were positively correlated with the amounts of dsRNA used. A qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the dsRNA-mediated transcriptional down-regulation of the awd gene. Significant down-regulation was required to induce a wing-malformed phenotype. No effect was found when dsRNA-gfp was used, indicating the specific effect of dsRNA-awd. Our findings suggest a role for awd in ACP wing development and metamorphosis. awd could serve as a potential target for insect management either via direct application of dsRNA or by producing transgenic plants expressing dsRNA-awd. These strategies will help to mitigate HLB by controlling ACP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim El-Shesheny
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Citrus Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Subhas Hajeri
- Department of Plant Pathology, Citrus Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ibrahim El-Hawary
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Siddarame Gowda
- Department of Plant Pathology, Citrus Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nabil Killiny
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Citrus Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Chen P, Tong XL, Li DD, Fu MY, He SZ, Hu H, Xiang ZH, Lu C, Dai FY. Antennapedia is involved in the development of thoracic legs and segmentation in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Heredity (Edinb) 2013; 111:182-8. [PMID: 23652563 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2013.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeotic genes, which are associated closely with body patterning of various species, specify segment identity. The Wedge eye-spot (Wes) is a new homeotic mutant located on the sixth linkage group. Homozygous Wes/Wes embryos are lethal and display a pair of antenna-like appendages under the mouthparts as well as fused thoracic segments. These mutants also exhibit a narrower eye-spot at the larval stage compared with the wild type. By positional cloning, we identified the candidate gene of the Wes locus, Bombyx mori Antennapedia (BmAntp). Two BmAntp transcripts were identified in the homozygote of the Wes mutant, including a normal form and an abnormal form with a 1570-bp insertion. Our data showed that the insertion element was a long interspersed nuclear element (LINE)-like transposon that destroyed the original open reading frame of BmAntp. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of normal BmAntp transcripts were increased markedly in the Wes heterozygous larvae compared with the wild type. Furthermore, we performed RNAi of BmAntp and observed fused thoracic segments and defective thoracic legs in the developing embryos. Our results indicated that BmAntp is responsible for the Wes mutant and has an important role in determining the proper development of the thoracic segments. Our identification of a homeotic mutation in the silkworm is an important contribution to our understanding of the regulation of Hox genes at different levels of expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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24
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Kobayashi I, Tsukioka H, Kômoto N, Uchino K, Sezutsu H, Tamura T, Kusakabe T, Tomita S. SID-1 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans mediates uptake of dsRNA into Bombyx cells. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 42:148-154. [PMID: 22178129 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference is one of the most revolutionary tools in the study of gene function, particularly in non-model systems. However, in Bombyx mori, as with many lepidopteran species, attempts at systemic RNAi have had mixed success. Gene identification and phylogenetic analyses suggest that Bombyx has the core RNAi machinery, which is necessary to undergo RNAi as a cellular response. We introduced sid genes from Caenorhabditis elegans into Bombyx BmN4 cells to enhance the uptake of dsRNA and revealed that the SID-1 protein, but not SID-2, has the ability to endow the RNAi effect with the addition of dsRNA to the medium. Observed RNAi effect was dependent on both the levels of sid-1 expression and the concentration of the dsRNA. These results suggest that SID-1 promotes the uptake of dsRNA from the medium into Bombyx cells. We generated transgenic animals that express sid-1 but have not detected significant enhancements of in vivo phenotype in response to the injection of the dsRNA into hemocoel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isao Kobayashi
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
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25
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siRNAs induce efficient RNAi response in Bombyx mori embryos. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25469. [PMID: 21980469 PMCID: PMC3184131 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Short interference RNA (siRNA) is widely used in mammalian cells. In insects, however, reports concerning the suitablility of siRNA in vivo is very limited compared with that of long dsRNA, which is thought to be more effective. There is insufficient information on the essential rules of siRNA design in insects, as very few siRNAs have been tested in this context. To establish an effective method of gene silencing using siRNA in vivo in insects, we determined the effects of siRNA on seven target genes. We designed siRNAs according to a new guideline and injected them into eggs of Bombyx mori. At the mRNA level, the expression of most of these genes was successfully silenced, down to less than half the constitutive level, which in some cases led to the development of distinctive phenotypes. In addition, we observed stronger effect of siRNA both on the mRNA level and the phenotype than that of long dsRNA under comparable conditions. These results indicate that direct injection of siRNA is an effective reverse-genetics tool for the analysis of embryogenesis in vivo in insects.
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26
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Terenius O, Papanicolaou A, Garbutt JS, Eleftherianos I, Huvenne H, Kanginakudru S, Albrechtsen M, An C, Aymeric JL, Barthel A, Bebas P, Bitra K, Bravo A, Chevalier F, Collinge DP, Crava CM, de Maagd RA, Duvic B, Erlandson M, Faye I, Felföldi G, Fujiwara H, Futahashi R, Gandhe AS, Gatehouse HS, Gatehouse LN, Giebultowicz JM, Gómez I, Grimmelikhuijzen CJP, Groot AT, Hauser F, Heckel DG, Hegedus DD, Hrycaj S, Huang L, Hull JJ, Iatrou K, Iga M, Kanost MR, Kotwica J, Li C, Li J, Liu J, Lundmark M, Matsumoto S, Meyering-Vos M, Millichap PJ, Monteiro A, Mrinal N, Niimi T, Nowara D, Ohnishi A, Oostra V, Ozaki K, Papakonstantinou M, Popadic A, Rajam MV, Saenko S, Simpson RM, Soberón M, Strand MR, Tomita S, Toprak U, Wang P, Wee CW, Whyard S, Zhang W, Nagaraju J, Ffrench-Constant RH, Herrero S, Gordon K, Swevers L, Smagghe G. RNA interference in Lepidoptera: an overview of successful and unsuccessful studies and implications for experimental design. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 57:231-45. [PMID: 21078327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 553] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2010] [Revised: 11/03/2010] [Accepted: 11/04/2010] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) has revolutionized the study of gene function, particularly in non-model insects. However, in Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) RNAi has many times proven to be difficult to achieve. Most of the negative results have been anecdotal and the positive experiments have not been collected in such a way that they are possible to analyze. In this review, we have collected detailed data from more than 150 experiments including all to date published and many unpublished experiments. Despite a large variation in the data, trends that are found are that RNAi is particularly successful in the family Saturniidae and in genes involved in immunity. On the contrary, gene expression in epidermal tissues seems to be most difficult to silence. In addition, gene silencing by feeding dsRNA requires high concentrations for success. Possible causes for the variability of success in RNAi experiments in Lepidoptera are discussed. The review also points to a need to further investigate the mechanism of RNAi in lepidopteran insects and its possible connection to the innate immune response. Our general understanding of RNAi in Lepidoptera will be further aided in the future as our public database at http://insectacentral.org/RNAi will continue to gather information on RNAi experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olle Terenius
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Yue C, Hua B. Are abdominal prolegs serially homologous with the thoracic legs in panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera)? embryological evidence. J Morphol 2010; 271:1366-73. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Characterization of abdominal appendages in the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera), by morphological and gene expression analyses. Dev Genes Evol 2010; 220:53-9. [PMID: 20449607 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-010-0325-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Larvae of the sawfly, Athalia rosae, have remarkable abdominal prolegs. We analyzed the morphogenesis of appendages and the expression of decapentaplegic and Distal-less genes during embryonic development to characterize the origin of prolegs. Proleg primordia in abdominal segments A1-A9 appeared shortly after the inner lobes (endites) of gnathal appendages were formed. These were located on the ventral plates, medioventral to the appendages of the other segments in light of serial homology. Nothing was seen where the main axis of the appendage should develop in abdominal segments. The primordia in A1 and A9 disappeared before larval hatching. Anal prolegs appeared separate from cerci, the main axes of appendages, which were formed temporarily in A11. The expression of decapentaplegic, which reflects the primary determination of appendages, was detected in the lateral juxtaposition with the prolegs. Distal-less was expressed in the main axes of appendages, protruding endites and the cerci, but not in prolegs and anal prolegs or the gnathal endites which do not protrude. These findings suggest a possibility that the abdominal and anal prolegs of A. rosae are outgrowths of ventral plates which derived from coxopodal elements, but not main axes of appendages.
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Functional analysis of Ultrabithorax in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, using RNAi. Dev Genes Evol 2009; 219:437-44. [PMID: 19908062 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-009-0305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The formation of abdominal appendages in insects is suppressed by the Hox genes Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and abdominal-A (abd-A), but mechanisms of the suppression can differ among species. As the function of Ubx and abd-A has been described in only a few species, more data from various insects are necessary to elucidate the evolutionary transition of regulation on abdominal appendages. We examined the function of Ubx in the silkworm Bombyx mori (Bm-Ubx) by embryonic RNA interference (RNAi). This is the first case in which functional analysis for Ubx is performed in lepidopteran insects. Larvae treated with Bm-Ubx dsRNA displayed an additional pair of thoracic leg-like protuberances in A1, whereas the other abdominal segments had no transformation. Our results suggest that Bm-Ubx is a suppressor of leg development in A1.
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