title: Identification of microRNAs by small RNA deep sequencing for synthetic microRNA mimics to control Spodoptera exigua.
abstract: Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is a major pest of cotton around the world. With the increase of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin in transgenic cotton plants, there is a need to develop an alternative control approach that can be used in combination with Bt transgenic crops as part of resistance management strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a non-coding small RNA family (18-25 nt), play crucial roles in various biological processes and over-expression of miRNAs has been shown to interfere with the normal development of insects. In this study, we identified 127 conserved miRNAs in S. exigua by using small RNA deep sequencing technology. From this, we tested the effects of 11 miRNAs on larval development. We found three miRNAs, Sex-miR-10-1a, Sex-miR-4924, and Sex-miR-9, to be differentially expressed during larval stages of S. exigua. Oral feeding experiments using synthetic miRNA mimics of Sex-miR-10-1a, Sex-miR-4924, and Sex-miR-9 resulted in suppressed growth of S. exigua and mortality. Over-expression of Sex-miR-4924 caused a significant reduction in the expression level of chitinase 1 and caused abortive molting in the insects. Therefore, we demonstrated a novel approach of using miRNA mimics to control S. exigua development.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: zhangyuliang@itbb.org.cn.
authors.forename: Yu Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: huangqixing@itbb.org.cn.
authors.forename: Qi Xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: guohuayin1997@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Guo Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: samantha.leexiii@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: reasonspare@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rui Zong
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: liuzhixin@itbb.org.cn.
authors.forename: Zhi Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: yunaitong1985@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nai Tong
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: k.pennerm@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Kayla K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Pennerman
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: chenxin@itbb.org.cn.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan 571101, China. Electronic address: gap211@126.com.
authors.forename: An Ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002688:Chitinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D002688:Chitinases
keywords: Beet armyworm; Insect resistance; Larval development; MicroRNAs; Transgenic Bt cotton