title: Feeding-based RNA interference of a gap gene is lethal to the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.
abstract: The gap gene hunchback (hb) is a key regulator in the anteroposterior patterning of insects. Loss-of-function of hb resulted in segmentation defects in the next generation. In this paper, hb expression level was investigated at different developmental stages of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Ap). Aphb mRNA was most early detected at the first instar stage and showed an incontinuous increase in the whole life cycle. Ingested RNA interference was performed at the second instar stage to knockdown the Aphb expression. Continuous feeding of Aphb double-stranded RNA mixed in artificial diet led to reduction of Aphb transcripts and rise of insect lethality. These results indicated that hunchback was a good RNAi target in the management of insect pests.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Pest Management in Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Fanrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors