title: MicroRNA-dependent development revealed by RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of LmDicer1 in the migratory locust.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, which participate in many biological processes. The small RNA transcriptome in the migratory locust has been characterized and 50 conserved miRNA families and 185 potential locust-specific miRNA family candidates have been identified using high-throughput sequencing. However, it is unclear whether miRNAs influence a wide variety of locusts' biological processes, such as growth or development. In insects, Dicer1 ribonuclease transforms miRNA precursors into mature miRNAs. Thus, using systemic RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of Dicer1 in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, we reduced miRNA contents in the locust and disrupted two types of molt (nymph-nymph, and nymph-adult). The RNAi of LmDicer1 also resulted in a high mortality in L. migratora. Our study revealed that LmDicer1 was essential for miRNA regulation and development of L. migratoria. These results further support our notion that LmDicer1 could serve as an excellent target for developing novel strategies for controlling this important insect pest.
authors: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Yan-Li
authors: YL
authors: Wang
authors: Mei-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Yang
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Jiang
authors: Jian-Zhen
authors: JZ
authors: Zhang
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D034622:RNA Interference; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D043244:Ribonuclease III
keywords: Locusta migratoria; development; dicer1; microRNA