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Gao Y, Cai T, Yu C, Zeng Q, Wan Y, Song L, He S, Li J, Wan H. A putative endonuclease reduces the efficiency of oral RNA interference in Nilaparvata lugens. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39007259 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery to insects by various methods is different and the reduced efficacy of feeding dsRNA is partly due to the presence of DNA/RNA non-specific endonuclease in the insect gut. However, the mechanism leading to the low RNAi efficiency of Nilaparvata lugens by feeding remains elusive. RESULTS In this study, we identified a putatively DNA/RNA non-specific endonuclease gene in the N. lugens genome database that was highly expressed in the first nymphal instar and the midgut. Different expression levels of NldsRNase after feeding and injection suggested that NldsRNase might interfere with oral RNAi in N. lugens. A co-delivery RNAi strategy further revealed that the presence of NldsRNase reduces RNAi efficiency. In vitro dsRNA degradation experiments also showed that the stability of dsRNA was higher in a gut mixture from nymphs injected with dsNldsRNase. These results support the idea that the low oral RNAi response observed in N. lugens is likely due to the presence of NldsRNase. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides insight into the differences in RNAi response between the injection and feeding of dsRNA in N. lugens and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the reduced efficacy of RNAi via feeding. These findings may help to inform the development of more-effective RNAi-based strategies controlling N. lugens and other insect pests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinghong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ludan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shun He
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianhong Li
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hu Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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2
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Koo J, Palli SR. Recent advances in understanding of the mechanisms of RNA interference in insects. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38957135 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
We highlight the recent 5 years of research that contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of RNA interference (RNAi) in insects. Since its first discovery, RNAi has contributed enormously as a reverse genetic tool for functional genomic studies. RNAi is also being used in therapeutics, as well as agricultural crop and livestock production and protection. Yet, for the wider application of RNAi, improvement of its potency and delivery technologies is needed. A mechanistic understanding of every step of RNAi, from cellular uptake of RNAi trigger molecules to targeted mRNA degradation, is key for developing an efficient strategy to improve RNAi technology. Insects provide an excellent model for studying the mechanism of RNAi due to species-specific variations in RNAi efficiency. This allows us to perform comparative studies in insect species with different RNAi sensitivity. Understanding the mechanisms of RNAi in different insects can lead to the development of better strategies to improve RNAi and its application to manage agriculturally and medically important insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmo Koo
- Department of Entomology, Gatton-Martin College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Subba Reddy Palli
- Department of Entomology, Gatton-Martin College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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3
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Zhang M, Zhang X, Chen T, Liao Y, Yang B, Wang G. RNAi-mediated pest control targeting the Troponin I (wupA) gene in sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38863245 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) is a critical pest producing enormous global losses in sweet potato crops. Traditional pest management approaches for sweet potato weevil, primarily using chemical pesticides, causes pollution, food safety issues, and harming natural enemies. While RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising environmentally friendly approach to pest control, its efficacy in controlling the sweet potato weevil has not been extensively studied. In this study, we selected a potential target for controlling C. formicarius, the Troponin I gene (wupA), which is essential for musculature composition and crucial for fundamental life activities. We determined that wupA is abundantly expressed throughout all developmental stages of the sweet potato weevil. We evaluated the efficiency of double-stranded RNAs in silencing the wupA gene via microinjection and oral feeding of sweet potato weevil larvae at different ages. Our findings demonstrate that both approaches significantly reduced the expression of wupA and produced high mortality. Moreover, the 1st instar larvae administered dswupA exhibited significant growth inhibition. We assessed the toxicity of dswupA on the no-target insect silkworm and assessed its safety. Our study indicates that wupA knockdown can inhibit the growth and development of C. formicarius and offer a potential target gene for environmentally friendly control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Synthetic Biology Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglin Liao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Synthetic Biology Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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4
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Xie Y, Tan Y, Wen X, Deng W, Yu J, Li M, Meng F, Wang X, Zhu D. The Expression and Function of Notch Involved in Ovarian Development and Fecundity in Basilepta melanopus. INSECTS 2024; 15:292. [PMID: 38667422 PMCID: PMC11050577 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Basilepta melanopus is a pest that severely affects oil tea plants, and the Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in the early development of insect ovaries. In this study, we explored the function of the notch gene within the Notch signaling pathway in the reproductive system of B. melanopus. The functional domains and expression patterns of Bmnotch were analyzed. Bmnotch contains 45 epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains, one negative regulatory region, one NODP domain and one repeat-containing domain superfamily. The qPCR reveals heightened expression in early developmental stages and specific tissues like the head and ovaries. The RNA interference (RNAi)-based suppression of notch decreased its expression by 52.1%, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to dsNotch at lower concentrations. Phenotypic and mating experiments have demonstrated that dsNotch significantly impairs ovarian development, leading to reduced mating frequencies and egg production. This decline underscores the Notch pathway's crucial role in fecundity. The findings advocate for RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control as an effective and sustainable strategy for managing B. melanopus populations, signifying a significant advancement in forest pest control endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Xie
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Yifan Tan
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Xuanye Wen
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110031, China;
| | - Wan Deng
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Jinxiu Yu
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Mi Li
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Fanhui Meng
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Xiudan Wang
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Daohong Zhu
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
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5
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Shu Q, Liu GC, He JW, Hu P, Dong ZW, Zhao RP, Zhang HR, Li XY. RNAi efficiency is enhanced through knockdown of double-stranded RNA-degrading enzymes in butterfly Papilio xuthus. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 115:e22113. [PMID: 38628056 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22113] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The efficiency of RNA interference (RNAi) has always limited the research on the phenotype innovation of Lepidoptera insects. Previous studies have found that double-stranded RNA-degrading enzyme (dsRNase) is an important factor in RNAi efficiency, but there have been no relevant reports in butterflies (Papilionoidea). Papilio xuthus is one of the important models in butterflies with an extensive experimental application value. To explore the effect of dsRNase in the RNAi efficiency on butterflies, six dsRNase genes (PxdsRNase 1-6) were identified in P. xuthus genome, and their dsRNA-degrading activities were subsequently detected by ex vivo assays. The result shows that the dsRNA-degrading ability of gut content (<1 h) was higher than hemolymph content (>12 h). We then investigated the expression patterns of these PxdsRNase genes during different tissues and developmental stages, and related RNAi experiments were carried out. Our results show that different PxdsRNase genes had different expression levels at different developmental stages and tissues. The expression of PxdsRNase2, PxdsRNase3, and PxdsRNase6 were upregulated significantly through dsGFP injection, and PxdsRNase genes can be silenced effectively by injecting their corresponding dsRNA. RNAi-of-RNAi studies with PxEbony, which acts as a reporter gene, observed that silencing PxdsRNase genes can increase RNAi efficiency significantly. These results confirm that silencing dsRNase genes can improve RNAi efficiency in P. xuthus significantly, providing a reference for the functional study of insects such as butterflies with low RNAi efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Shu
- Yunnan Agricultural University College of Plant Protection, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Gui-Chun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jin-Wu He
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ruo-Ping Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hong-Rui Zhang
- Yunnan Agricultural University College of Plant Protection, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xue-Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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6
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Koo J, Zhu GH, Palli SR. CRISPR-Cas9 mediated dsRNase knockout improves RNAi efficiency in the fall armyworm. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 200:105839. [PMID: 38582601 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105839] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Lepidopteran insects are refractory to RNA interference (RNAi) response, especially to orally delivered double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). High nuclease activity in the midgut lumen is proposed as one of the major reasons for RNAi insensitivity. We identified three dsRNase genes highly expressed in the midgut of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. The genomic region harboring those three dsRNase genes was deleted using the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing method. A homozygous line with deletion of three dsRNase genes was produced. dsRNA degradation by midgut lumen contents of mutant larvae was lower than in wild-type larvae. Feeding dsRNA targeting the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) gene increased knockdown of the target gene and mortality in mutants compared to wild-type larvae. These results suggest that dsRNases in the midgut contribute to RNAi inefficiency in FAW. Formulations that protect dsRNA from dsRNase degradation may improve RNAi efficiency in FAW and other lepidopteran insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmo Koo
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Guan-Heng Zhu
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Subba Reddy Palli
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
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7
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Zhou X, Wei J, Ge H, Guan D, Li H, Zhang H, Zheng Y, Qian K, Wang J. Functional Characterization and Putative Regulatory Mechanism of an RNAi Efficiency-Related Nuclease (REase) in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:3973-3983. [PMID: 38361393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The lepidopteran-specific RNAi efficiency-related nuclease (REase) has been shown to contribute to double-strand RNA (dsRNA) degradation in several lepidopteran insects. However, little is known about its regulatory mechanism. In this study, we identified and characterized SfREase in Spodoptera frugiperda. The exposure of the third-instar larvae to dsEGFP and high temperature led to the upregulation of SfREase, whereas starvation treatment resulted in the downregulation of SfREase. Further experiments revealed that dsRNA degraded more slowly in the hemolymph or midgut fluid extracted from dsSfREase-injected or dsSfREase-ingested larvae compared with those from dsEGFP-treated larvae, and the recombinant SfREase degraded dsRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the knockdown of SfREase improved RNAi efficiency. Finally, both RNAi and dual-luciferase reporter assay in Sf9 cells revealed that SfREase is negatively regulated by FOXO. These data provide insights into the function and regulatory mechanism of REase and have applied implications for the development of an RNAi-based control strategy of S. frugiperda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jiaping Wei
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Huichen Ge
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Daojie Guan
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hai Li
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hainan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Kun Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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8
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Ortolá B, Daròs JA. RNA Interference in Insects: From a Natural Mechanism of Gene Expression Regulation to a Biotechnological Crop Protection Promise. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:137. [PMID: 38534407 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Insect pests rank among the major limiting factors in agricultural production worldwide. In addition to direct effect on crops, some phytophagous insects are efficient vectors for plant disease transmission. Large amounts of conventional insecticides are required to secure food production worldwide, with a high impact on the economy and environment, particularly when beneficial insects are also affected by chemicals that frequently lack the desired specificity. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism gene expression regulation and protection against exogenous and endogenous genetic elements present in most eukaryotes, including insects. Molecules of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) or highly structured RNA are the substrates of cellular enzymes to produce several types of small RNAs (sRNAs), which play a crucial role in targeting sequences for transcriptional or post-transcriptional gene silencing. The relatively simple rules that underlie RNAi regulation, mainly based in Watson-Crick complementarity, have facilitated biotechnological applications based on these cellular mechanisms. This includes the promise of using engineered dsRNA molecules, either endogenously produced in crop plants or exogenously synthesized and applied onto crops, as a new generation of highly specific, sustainable, and environmentally friendly insecticides. Fueled on this expectation, this article reviews current knowledge about the RNAi pathways in insects, and some other applied questions such as production and delivery of recombinant RNA, which are critical to establish RNAi as a reliable technology for insect control in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beltrán Ortolá
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - José-Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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9
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Niu J, Chen R, Wang JJ. RNA interference in insects: the link between antiviral defense and pest control. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:2-12. [PMID: 37162315 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a form of gene silencing triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that operates in all eukaryotic cells. RNAi has been widely investigated in insects to determine the underlying molecular mechanism, to investigate its role in systemic antiviral defense, and to develop strategies for pest control. When insect cells are infected by viruses, viral dsRNA signatures trigger a local RNAi response to block viral replication and generate virus-derived DNA that confers systemic immunity. RNAi-based insect pest control involves the application of exogenous dsRNA targeting genes essential for insect development or survival, but the efficacy of this approach has limited potency in many pests through a combination of rapid dsRNA degradation, inefficient dsRNA uptake/processing, and ineffective RNAi machinery. This could be addressed by dsRNA screening and evaluation, focusing on dsRNA design and off-target management, as well as dsRNA production and delivery. This review summarizes recent progress to determine the role of RNAi in antiviral defense and as a pest control strategy in insects, addressing gaps between our fundamental understanding of the RNAi mechanism and the exploitation of RNAi-based pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruoyu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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10
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Zhang JY, Zhao J, Zhu-Salzman K, Ji QQ, Jiang YP, Xiao LB, Xu DJ, Xu GC, Ge LQ, Tan YA. Gene cloning, protein expression, and enzymatic characterization of a double-stranded RNA degrading enzyme in Apolygus lucorum. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:119-133. [PMID: 37287390 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13211] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool that post-transcriptionally silences target genes in eukaryotic cells. However, silencing efficacy varies greatly among different insect species. Recently, we met with little success when attempting to knock down genes in the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum via dsRNA injection. The disappearance of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) could be a potential factor that restricts RNAi efficiency. Here, we found that dsRNA can be degraded in midgut fluids, and a dsRNase of A. lucorum (AldsRNase) was identified and characterized. Sequence alignment indicated that its 6 key amino acid residues and the Mg2+ -binding site were similar to those of other insects' dsRNases. The signal peptide and endonuclease non-specific domain shared high sequence identity with the brown-winged green stinkbug Plautia stali dsRNase. AldsRNase showed high salivary gland and midgut expression and was continuously expressed through the whole life cycle, with peaks at the 4th instar ecdysis in the whole body. The purified AldsRNase protein obtained by heterologously expressed can rapidly degrade dsRNA. When comparing the substrate specificity of AldsRNase, 3 specific substrates (dsRNA, small interfering RNA, and dsDNA) were all degraded, and the most efficient degradation is dsRNA. Subsequently, immunofluorescence revealed that AldsRNase was expressed in the cytoplasm of midgut cells. Through cloning and functional study of AldsRNase, the enzyme activity and substrate specificity of the recombinant protein, as well as the subcellular localization of nuclease, the reason for the disappearance of dsRNA was explained, which was useful in improving RNAi efficiency in A. lucorum and related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Yu Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Keyan Zhu-Salzman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Qin-Qin Ji
- Taizhou Customs of the People's Republic of China, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi-Ping Jiang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liu-Bin Xiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - De-Jin Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guang-Chun Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lin-Quan Ge
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yong-An Tan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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11
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Bonina V, Arpaia S. The use of RNA interference for the management of arthropod pests in livestock farms. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:631-646. [PMID: 37401856 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Pest management in farm animals is an important action to contain economic damage to livestock production and prevent transmission of severe diseases to the stock. The use of chemical insecticides is still the most common approach followed by farmers; however, avoiding possible toxic effects on animals is a fundamental task for pest control measures compatible with animal well-being. Moreover, legal constraints and insurgence of resistance by target species to the available insecticidal compounds are increasingly complicating farmers' operations. Alternatives to chemical pesticides have been explored with some promising results in the area of biological control or the use of natural products as sprays. The application of RNA interference techniques has enabled the production of new means of pest control in agriculture, and it is opening a promising avenue for controlling arthropod pests of livestock. Transcript depletion of specific target genes of the recipient organisms is based on the action of double-strand RNAs (dsRNA) capable of impairing the production of fundamental proteins. Their mode of action, based on the specific recognition of short genomic sequences, is expected to be highly selective towards non-target organisms potentially exposed; in addition, there are physical and chemical barriers to dsRNA uptake by mammalian cells that render these products practically innocuous for higher animals. Summarising existing literature on gene silencing for main taxa of arthropod pests of livestock (Acarina, Diptera, Blattoidea), this review explores the perspectives of practical applications of dsRNA-based pesticides against the main pests of farm animals. Knowledge gaps are summarised to stimulate additional research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Bonina
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Salvatore Arpaia
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, TERIN-BBC Research Centre Trisaia, Rotondella, Matera, Italy
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Lin S, Yang J, Wang W, Huang P, Asad M, Yang G. Hsp70 and Hsp90 Elaborately Regulate RNAi Efficiency in Plutella xylostella. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16167. [PMID: 38003357 PMCID: PMC10671170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) serve as molecular chaperones in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway of eukaryotic organisms. In model organisms, Hsp70 and Hsp90 facilitate the folding and remodeling of the client protein Argonaute (Ago). However, the specific function of HSPs in the RNAi pathway of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) remains unknown. In this study, we identified and analyzed the coding sequences of PxHsc70-4 and PxHsp83 (also known as PxHsp90). Both PxHsc70-4 and PxHsp83 exhibited three conserved domains that covered a massive portion of their respective regions. The knockdown or inhibition of PxHsc70-4 and PxHsp83 in vitro resulted in a significant increase in the gene expression of the dsRNA-silenced reporter gene PxmRPS18, leading to a decrease in its RNAi efficiency. Interestingly, the overexpression of PxHsc70-4 and PxHsp83 in DBM, Sf9, and S2 cells resulted in an increase in the bioluminescent activity of dsRNA-silenced luciferase, indicating a decrease in its RNAi efficiency via the overexpression of Hsp70/Hsp90. Furthermore, the inhibition of PxHsc70-4 and PxHsp83 in vivo resulted in a significant increase in the gene expression of PxmRPS18. These findings demonstrated the essential involvement of a specific quantity of Hsc70-4 and Hsp83 in the siRNA pathway in P. xylostella. Our study offers novel insights into the roles played by HSPs in the siRNA pathway in lepidopteran insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Weiqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Pengrong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Muhammad Asad
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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13
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Dalaisón-Fuentes LI, Pascual A, Crespo M, Andrada NL, Welchen E, Catalano MI. Knockdown of double-stranded RNases (dsRNases) enhances oral RNA interference (RNAi) in the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 196:105618. [PMID: 37945254 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The leafhopper Dalbulus maidis is a harmful pest that causes severe damage to corn crops. Conventional chemical pesticides have negative environmental impacts, emphasizing the need for alternative solutions. RNA interference (RNAi) is a more specific and environmentally friendly method for controlling pests and reducing the negative impacts of current pest management practices. Previous studies have shown that orally administered double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is less effective than injection protocols in silencing genes. This study focuses on identifying and understanding the role of double-stranded ribonucleases (dsRNases) in limiting the efficiency of oral RNAi in D. maidis. Three dsRNases were identified and characterized, with Dmai-dsRNase-2 being highly expressed in the midgut and salivary glands. An ex vivo degradation assay revealed significant nuclease activity, resulting in high instability of dsRNA when exposed to tissue homogenates. Silencing Dmai-dsRNase-2 improved the insects' response to the dsRNA targeting the gene of interest, providing evidence of dsRNases involvement in oral RNAi efficiency. Therefore, administering both dsRNase-specific and target gene-specific-dsRNAs simultaneously is a promising approach to increase the efficiency of oral RNAi and should be considered in future control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía I Dalaisón-Fuentes
- Centro de BioInvestigaciones (Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CICBA), Avenida Presidente Frondizi 2650 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina; Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Monteagudo 2772 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina
| | - Agustina Pascual
- Centro de BioInvestigaciones (Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CICBA), Avenida Presidente Frondizi 2650 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina; Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Monteagudo 2772 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina.
| | - Mariana Crespo
- Centro de BioInvestigaciones (Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CICBA), Avenida Presidente Frondizi 2650 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina; Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Monteagudo 2772 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina
| | - Nicolás L Andrada
- Centro de BioInvestigaciones (Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CICBA), Avenida Presidente Frondizi 2650 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina; Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Monteagudo 2772 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina
| | - Elina Welchen
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María I Catalano
- Centro de BioInvestigaciones (Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CICBA), Avenida Presidente Frondizi 2650 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina; Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA-CONICET), Monteagudo 2772 (2700), Pergamino, Argentina
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14
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Qiao H, Zhao J, Wang X, Xiao L, Zhu-Salzman K, Lei J, Xu D, Xu G, Tan Y, Hao D. An oral dsRNA delivery system based on chitosan induces G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 gene silencing for Apolygus lucorum control. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:105481. [PMID: 37532313 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is recognized as a new and environmentally friendly pest control strategy due to its high specificity. However, the RNAi efficiency is relatively low in many sucking insect pests, such as Apolygus lucorum. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new and effective ways of dsRNA delivery. Bacterially expressed or T7 synthesized dsRNA targeting a G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 gene was mixed with chitosan in a 1:2 ratio by mass. The size of the chitosan/dsRNA nanoparticles was 69 ± 12 nm, and the TEM and AFM images showed typical spherical or ellipsoidal structures. The chitosan nanoparticles protected the dsRNA from nuclease activity, and pH and temperature-dependent degradation, and the fluorescently-tagged nanoparticles were found to be stable on the surface of green bean plants (48 h) (Phaseolus vulgaris) and were absorbed by midgut epithelial cells and transported to hemolymph. Once fed to the A. lucorum nymph, chitosan/dsRNA could effectively inhibit the expression of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 gene (70%), and led to significantly increase mortality (50%), reduced weight (26.54%) and a prolonged developmental period (8.04%). The feeding-based and chitosan-mediated dsRNA delivery method could be a new strategy for A. lucorum management, providing an effective tool for gene silencing of piercing-sucking insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Qiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China; College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- School of Environmental Science, Nanjing XiaoZhuang University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liubin Xiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Keyan Zhu-Salzman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jiaxin Lei
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Dejin Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangchun Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongan Tan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China.
| | - Dejun Hao
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
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15
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Xia Y, Jiang M, Hu X, Wang Q, Qian C, Zhu B, Wei G, Wang L. A Protein Asteroid with PIN Domain in Silkworm Bombyx mori Is Involved in Anti-BmNPV Infection. INSECTS 2023; 14:550. [PMID: 37367365 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Nuclease is a type of protein that degrades nucleic acids, which plays an important role in biological processes, including RNA interference efficiency and antiviral immunity. However, no evidence of a link between nuclease and Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection in silkworm B. mori has been found. In this study, a protein asteroid (BmAst) containing the PIN domain and XPG domain was identified in silkworm B. mori. BmAst gene was highest expressed in hemocytes and fat body of the 5th instar larvae, and high expression in the pupa stage. The transcriptional levels of the BmAst gene in 5th instar larvae were significantly induced by BmNPV or dsRNA. After knocking down BmAst gene expression by specific dsRNA, the proliferation of BmNPV in B. mori was increased significantly, whereas the survival rate of larvae was significantly lower when compared with the control. Our findings indicate that BmAst is involved in silkworm resistance to BmNPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Xia
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Mouzhen Jiang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Hu
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Qing Wang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Cen Qian
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Baojian Zhu
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Guoqing Wei
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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16
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Zeng B, Chen FR, Sun H, Liu Y, Wu SF, Bass C, Gao CF. Molecular and functional analysis of chitin synthase genes in Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:661-676. [PMID: 36269029 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, has developed a high level of resistance to many of the compounds currently used for control. There is therefore an urgent need to develop novel control methods for C. suppressalis. Insect chitin synthases (CHS) have attracted interest as a potential target for insect pest management. However, to date, CHS have not been characterized in C. suppressalis. Two CHS genes (CsCHS1 and CsCHS2) were identified and cloned from C. suppressalis. Two transcript variants were identified for CsCHS1, CsCHS1a and CsCHS1b. Spatiotemporal expression profiling showed that both transcripts of CsCHS1 are most highly expressed on the last day of each larval instar stage and show the highest expression levels in the integument. In contrast, CsCHS2 is predominantly expressed during the larval feeding stages and shows the highest expression levels in the midgut. Knockdown of CsCHS1 by RNA interference significantly inhibited the molting and pupation of C. suppressalis, and knockdown of CsCHS2 significantly affected growth during the larval stage, but had no significant effect on the pupation. Moreover, knockout of CsCHS1 by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing severely lowered the hatching rate, larval survivorship, pupation rate, and eclosion rate, but only larval survivorship at the G0 generation was lowered after the knockout of CsCHS2. These results demonstrate that CsCHS1 and CsCHS2 play vital roles in the growth and development of C. suppressalis, and so have potential as insecticidal targets for the control of this highly damaging pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zeng
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Fu-Rong Chen
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Sun
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shun-Fan Wu
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chris Bass
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Cong-Fen Gao
- State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application/College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Yao Z, Jin H, Li C, Ma W, Zhang W, Lin Y. Knockdown of Dcr1 and Dcr2 limits the lethal effect of C-factor in Chilo suppressalis. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 113:e22004. [PMID: 36780173 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22004] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Dicer is a highly conserved ribonuclease in evolution. It belongs to the RNase III family and can specifically recognize and cleave double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In this study, the genome and transcriptome of Chilo suppressalis were analyzed, and it was found that there were two members in the Dicer family, named Dcr1 and Dcr2. The dsRNAs of Dcr1 and Dcr2 genes were synthesized and fed to C. suppressalis larvae. The C-factor of C. suppressalis was selected as the marker gene. The results showed that both Dcr1 and Dcr2 genes were significantly knocked down. The larval mortality was significantly reduced by 43.50% (p < 0.05) after feeding on dsC-factor and dsDcr1. The transcription levels of C-factor genes were significantly increased by 33.95% (p < 0.05) and 32.94% (p < 0.05) when the larvae fed with dsDcr2 + dsC-factor for 72 h and 96 h, respectively. Furthermore, the mortality was significantly decreased by 79% (p < 0.05) after feeding dsC-factor and dsDcr2. These findings imply that Dcr1 can decrease the lethal effect of C-factor gene but cannot affect its RNAi efficiency and Dcr2 can decrease the lethal effect of C-factor gene by inhibiting RNAi efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuotian Yao
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huihui Jin
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Changyan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Weihua Ma
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yongjun Lin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Finetti L, Benetti L, Leyria J, Civolani S, Bernacchia G. Topical delivery of dsRNA in two hemipteran species: Evaluation of RNAi specificity and non-target effects. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 189:105295. [PMID: 36549821 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105295] [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: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Double-stranded (ds) RNA-based technologies could provide novel and potential tool for pest management with efficiency and specificity of action. However, before applying this technique in the field, it is necessary to identify effective delivery methods and evaluate the non-target effects that may occur. In this article, we evaluated the effectiveness of dsRNA by topical delivery on a species of great agricultural interest, Halyomorpha halys. The specificity of action of the dsRNA was also investigated in Rhodnius prolixus, an insect phylogenetically close to H. halys. Of the three investigated genes (putative ATPase N2B, ATPase, serine/threonine-protein phosphatase PP1-β catalytic subunit, PP1, and IAP repeat-containing protein 7-B-like, IAP), IAP and ATPase were able to induce higher mortality in H. halys nymphs compared to the control, with specific concentrations for each gene targeted. However, when the same RNAs were topically delivered to both R. prolixus 2nd and 3rd instar nymphs, no gene silencing and mortality were observed. For this reason, to assess dsRNA application-mediated non-target effects, we injected both H. halys and R. prolixus specific dsRNA in R. prolixus 5th instar nymphs. When the dsRNA targeting H. halys IAP was microinjected into R. prolixus 5th instar nymphs, no mortality was observed, suggesting a strong RNAi specificity. Together, these data suggest that the topical delivery could be suitable for the dsRNA to control H. halys population. Furthermore, its specificity of action would allow treatments towards single harmful species with limited non-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Finetti
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
| | - Lorenzo Benetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Jimena Leyria
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Stefano Civolani
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernacchia
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Wang R, Li Y, Li D, Zhang W, Wang X, Wen X, Liu Z, Feng Y, Zhang X. Identification of the Extracellular Nuclease Influencing Soaking RNA Interference Efficiency in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012278. [PMID: 36293134 PMCID: PMC9603779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency dramatically varies among different nematodes, which impacts research on their gene function and pest control. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a pine wood nematode in which RNAi-mediated gene silencing has unstable interference efficiency through soaking in dsRNA solutions, the factors of which remain unknown. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we found that dsRNA can be degraded by nematode secretions in the soaking system which is responsible for the low RNAi efficiency. Based on the previously published genome and secretome data of B. xylophilus, 154 nucleases were screened including 11 extracellular nucleases which are potential factors reducing RNAi efficacy. To confirm the function of nucleases in RNAi efficiency, eight extracellular nuclease genes (BxyNuc1-8) were cloned in the genome. BxyNuc4, BxyNuc6 and BxyNuc7 can be upregulated in response to dsGFP, considered as the major nuclease performing dsRNA degradation. After soaking with the dsRNA of nucleases BxyNuc4/BxyNuc6/BxyNuc7 and Pat10 gene (ineffective in RNAi) simultaneously for 24 h, the expression of Pat10 gene decreased by 23.25%, 26.05% and 11.29%, respectively. With soaking for 36 h, the expression of Pat10 gene decreased by 43.25% and 33.25% in dsBxyNuc6+dsPat10 and dsBxyNuc7+dsPat10 groups, respectively. However, without dsPat10, dsBxyNuc7 alone could cause downregulation of Pat10 gene expression, while dsBxyNuc6 could not disturb this gene. In conclusion, the nuclease BxyNuc6 might be a major barrier to the RNAi efficiency in B. xylophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijiong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yongxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-010-62888578
| | - Dongzhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xiaojian Wen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Zhenkai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yuqian Feng
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xingyao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing l00091, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
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Abreu Reis M, Noriega DD, Dos Santos Alves G, Ramos Coelho R, Grossi-de-Sa MF, Antonino JD. Why is oral-induced RNAi inefficient in Diatraea saccharalis? A possible role for DsREase and other nucleases. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 186:105166. [PMID: 35973772 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of RNAi technology in insects varies considerably, particularly in lepidopterans. An important limiting factor of RNAi-mediated gene silencing is the degradation of dsRNA by insect nucleases before cellular uptake. To date, few studies have reported effective gene knockdown in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis. However, yielding contradictory results when using oral delivery. Further, the RNAi efficiency in D. saccharalis and presumed activity of gut nucleases remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated whether gene silencing was feasible via dsRNA feeding in D. saccharalis. Two different genes were tested, juvenile hormone esterase (DsJHE) and chitin synthase 1 (DsCHS1). Discrete knockdown was verified only for DsCHS1 with high dsRNA dosages and long exposure times. Neither mortality nor abnormal phenotypes were observed after treatment with any tested dsRNA. It was also verified that dsRNAs were quickly degraded when incubated with gut juice. Furthermore, we identified four possible nucleases that could reduce the knockdown efficiency in D. saccharalis. Three of them had the endonuclease_NS domain (DsNucleases), and one had the PIN domain (DsREase), with REase-like genes being scarcely represented in databanks. We further remark that DsNuclease1 and DsREase are highly expressed in the larval gut, and DsREase was upregulated as insects were fed with artificial diet (without dsRNA), and also when injected with dsRNA. Conversely, no nuclease was triggered when insects were fed with a sucrose droplet containing dsRNA. Thus, our findings suggest that nuclease activity within the gut is one of the possible reasons for the inefficiency of RNAi in D. saccharalis. Our data may shed light on the challenges to overcome when introducing RNAi as a strategy for controlling lepidopteran pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoely Abreu Reis
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Gessica Dos Santos Alves
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Brazil
| | - Roberta Ramos Coelho
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Brazil
| | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Universidade Católica de Brasília - UCB, Brasília, Brazil; Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brazil
| | - José Dijair Antonino
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT PlantStress Biotech, Embrapa, Brazil.
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Zhang X, Fan Z, Wang Q, Kong X, Liu F, Fang J, Zhang S, Zhang Z. RNAi Efficiency through dsRNA Injection Is Enhanced by Knockdown of dsRNA Nucleases in the Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116182. [PMID: 35682860 PMCID: PMC9181381 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a promising approach used in pest control. The efficiency of RNAi varies considerably among different insect species, and growing evidence suggests that degradation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) prior to uptake is an important factor that limits RNAi efficiency in insects. Our recent work on fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), an important invasive pest in China, showed a relatively low silencing efficiency of RNAi through dsRNA injection, which is considered the most feasible dsRNA delivery method for inducing RNAi, and the factors involved in the mechanism remain unknown. Herein, we first detected the dsRNA-degrading activity in the hemolymph and gut content of H. cunea in ex vivo assays and observed rapid degradation of dsRNA, especially in the hemolymph, which was complete within only 10 min. To determine whether dsRNA degradation could contribute to the low effectiveness of RNAi in H. cunea, four dsRNA nuclease (dsRNase) genes, HcdsRNase1, HcdsRNase2, HcdsRNase3, and HcdsRNase4, were identified by homology searching against the H. cunea transcriptome database, and their transcript levels were subsequently investigated in different tissues, developmental stages, and after dsRNA injection. Our results show that HcdsRNases are highly expressed mainly in gut tissues and hemolymph, and the expression of HcdsRNase3 and HcdsRNase4 were significantly upregulated by dsGFP induction. RNAi-of-RNAi studies, using HcCht5 as a reporter gene, demonstrated that silencing HcdsRNase3 and HcdsRNase4 significantly increases RNAi efficacy via dsHcCht5 injection, and co-silencing these two HcdsRNase genes results in a more significant improvement in efficacy. These results confirm that the RNAi efficacy in H. cunea through dsRNA injection is certainly impaired by dsRNase activity, and that blocking HcdsRNases could potentially improve RNAi, providing a reference for related studies on insects where RNAi has low efficiency.
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22
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Fan Y, Abbas M, Liu X, Wang Y, Song H, Li T, Ma E, Zhu KY, Zhang J. Increased RNAi Efficiency by dsEGFP-Induced Up-Regulation of Two Core RNAi Pathway Genes (OfDicer2 and OfAgo2) in the Asian Corn Borer (Ostrinia furnacalis). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030274. [PMID: 35323572 PMCID: PMC8948962 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary RNA interference (RNAi) has shown great potentials as a novel technology for insect pest management. However, numerous studies have shown that the efficiency of RNAi varies substantially among different insect species. For example, as a major insect pest of corn, the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) showed very low RNAi efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new strategies for enhancing RNAi efficiency in insects with low RNAi efficiency. In this study, six core RNAi pathway genes were identified and characterized from O. furnacalis transcriptome database. After dsEGFP was injected into O. furnacalis, the expression of the core RNAi pathway genes (OfDicer2 and OfAgo2) was significantly up-regulated in response to the exposure of dsEGFP. As a result, the RNAi efficiency against the target genes in certain tissues of O. furnacalis was significantly improved. These results suggest that RNAi efficiency can be improved by inducing the expression of key RNAi pathway genes in O. furnacalis. Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific gene silencing mechanism that holds great promise for effective management of agricultural pests. Previous studies have shown that the efficacy of RNAi varies among different insect species, which limits its wide spread application in the field of crop protection. In this study, we identified and characterized six core RNAi pathway genes including OfDicer1, OfDicer2, OfR2D2, OfAgo1, OfAgo2, and OfAgo3 from the transcriptomic database of the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis). Domain analysis showed that the six deduced proteins contained the necessary functional domains. Insect developmental stage- and tissue-specific expression analysis showed that five genes were expressed in all the stages and tissues examined except OfAgo3, which showed low expression in larvae, and high expression in pupae and adults and in the midgut. RT-qPCR was performed to examine the response of these six genes to exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Interestingly, the transcript levels of OfDicer2 and OfAgo2 were significantly enhanced after the injection of dsEGFP at different time points and tissues investigated. Consequently, the RNAi efficiency in targeting the insect endogenous genes can be greatly enhanced in the hemolymph or midgut. Taken together, our investigations suggest that RNAi efficiency can be enhanced by pre-injection of dsRNA to induce the RNAi core machinery genes, which could be a useful strategy to improving RNAi efficiency for studying gene functions under laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhe Fan
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
- College of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Mureed Abbas
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xiaojian Liu
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Yanli Wang
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Huifang Song
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046000, China;
| | - Tao Li
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Enbo Ma
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Kun Yan Zhu
- Department of Entomology, 123 Waters Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
- Correspondence: (K.Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.F.); (M.A.); (X.L.); (Y.W.); (T.L.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (K.Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
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23
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Lei J, Tan Y, List F, Puckett R, Tarone AM, Vargo EL, Zhu-Salzman K. Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Double-Stranded RNA-Degrading Nuclease in the Tawny Crazy Ant (Nylanderia fulva). Front Physiol 2022; 13:833652. [PMID: 35153841 PMCID: PMC8836465 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.833652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference is a powerful tool that post-transcriptionally silences target genes. However, silencing efficacy varies greatly among different insect species. Recently, we attempted to knock down some housekeeping genes in the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), a relatively new invasive species in the southern United States, but only achieved relatively low silencing efficiency when dsRNA was orally administered. Here, we detected divalent cation-dependent, dsRNA-degrading activity in the midgut fluid of worker ants in ex vivo assays. To determine whether dsRNA degradation could contribute to low effectiveness of oral RNAi in N. fulva, we cloned its sole dsRNase gene (NfdsRNase). The deduced amino acid sequence contained a signal peptide and an endonuclease domain. Sequence alignment indicated a high degree of similarity with well-characterized dsRNases, particularly the six key residues at active sites. We also identified dsRNase homologs from five other ant species and found a tight phylogenetic relationship among ant dsRNases. NfdsRNase is expressed predominantly in the abdomen of worker ants. Oral delivery of dsRNA of NfdsRNase significantly reduced the expression of NfdsRNase transcripts, and substantially suppressed dsRNA-degrading activity of worker ants’ midgut fluids as well. Our data suggest that dsRNA stability in the alimentary tract is an important factor for gene silencing efficiency in N. fulva, and that blocking NfdsRNase in gut lumen could potentially improve RNAi, a novel pest management tactic in control of N. fulva and other ant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Lei
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Yongan Tan
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Fabian List
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Robert Puckett
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Aaron M. Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Edward L. Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Keyan Zhu-Salzman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Keyan Zhu-Salzman,
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24
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Zhao W, Zhu J, Lu H, Zhu J, Jiang F, Wang W, Luo L, Kang L, Cui F. The nucleocapsid protein of rice stripe virus in cell nuclei of vector insect regulates viral replication. Protein Cell 2021; 13:360-378. [PMID: 33675514 PMCID: PMC7936609 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rice stripe virus (RSV) transmitted by the small brown planthopper causes severe rice yield losses in Asian countries. Although viral nuclear entry promotes viral replication in host cells, whether this phenomenon occurs in vector cells remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we systematically evaluated the presence and roles of RSV in the nuclei of vector insect cells. We observed that the nucleocapsid protein (NP) and viral genomic RNAs were partially transported into vector cell nuclei by utilizing the importin α nuclear transport system. When blocking NP nuclear localization, cytoplasmic RSV accumulation significantly increased. In the vector cell nuclei, NP bound the transcription factor YY1 and affected its positive regulation to FAIM. Subsequently, decreased FAIM expression triggered an antiviral caspase-dependent apoptotic reaction. Our results reveal that viral nuclear entry induces completely different immune effects in vector and host cells, providing new insights into the balance between viral load and the immunity pressure in vector insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junjie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiaming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Feng Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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