title: RNA interference-mediated knock-down of Bla g 1 in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica L., implicates this allergen-encoding gene in digestion and nutrient absorption.
abstract: We used RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of a gene encoding Bla g 1, a human allergen produced by the German cockroach, Blattella germanica L., to study its function in cockroach physiology. Females injected with 1 microg of double-stranded RNA contained 64% less Bla g 1 protein and Bla g 1 mRNA abundance was reduced by 91.4% compared to sham-injected females. Bla g 1 knockdown slowed the pace of weight gain, midgut growth, and colleterial gland and basal oocyte maturation, resulting in delayed egg case formation and lower fecundity. Exogenous juvenile hormone treatments rescued reproduction in RNAi-treated females, suggesting that Bla g 1 silencing lowered endogenous juvenile hormone, probably by reducing food intake and nutrient absorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suazo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schal
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004063:Digestion / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000235:genetics*; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D017931:DNA Primers; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; C105482:allergen Bla g 1