Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects Pests, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
2. Hainan Institute Zhejiang University Sanya China
Abstract
AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single‐stranded non‐coding RNAs involved in a variety of cellular events by regulating gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. Several core genes in miRNA biogenesis have been reported to participate in a wide range of physiological events, in some insect species. However, the functional significance of miRNA pathway core genes in Nilaparvata lugens remains unknown. In the present study, we conducted a systematic characterisation of five core genes involved in miRNA biogenesis. We first performed spatiotemporal expression analysis and found that miRNA core genes exhibited similar expression patterns, with high expression levels in eggs and relatively high transcriptional levels in the ovaries and fat bodies of females. RNA interference experiments showed that injecting third‐instar nymphs with dsRNAs targeting the miRNA core genes, NlAgo1, NlDicer1, and NlDrosha resulted in high mortality rates and various degrees of body melanism, moulting defects, and wing deformities. Further investigations revealed that the suppression of miRNA core genes severely impaired ovarian development and oocyte maturation, resulting in significantly reduced fecundity and disruption of intercellular spaces between follicle cells. Moreover, the expression profiles of miR‐34‐5p, miR‐275‐3p, miR‐317‐3p, miR‐14, Let‐7‐1, and miR‐2a‐3p were significantly altered in response to the knockdown of miRNA core genes mixture, suggesting that they play essential roles in regulating miRNA‐mediated gene expression. Therefore, our results provide a solid theoretical basis for the miRNA pathway in N. lugens and suggest that the NlAgo1, NlDicer1, and NlDrosha‐dependent miRNA core genes are essential for the development and reproduction of this agricultural pest.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Insect Science,Genetics,Molecular Biology
Cited by
5 articles.
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