Characterization of cold-associated microRNAs in the freeze-tolerant gall fly Eurosta solidaginis using high-throughput sequencing.
Significant physiological and biochemical changes are observed in freeze-tolerant insects when confronted with cold temperatures. These insects have adapted to winter by retreating into a hypometabolic state of diapause and implementing cryoprotective mechanisms that allow them to survive whole body freezing. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a family of short ribonucleic acids, are emerging as likely molecular players underlying the process of cold adaptation. Unfortunately, the data is sparse concerning the signature of miRNAs that are modulated following cold exposure in the freeze-tolerant goldenrod gall fly Eurosta solidaginis. Leveraging for the first time a next-generation sequencing approach, differentially expressed miRNAs were evaluated in 5°C and -15°C-exposed E. solidaginis larvae. Next-generation sequencing expression data was subsequently validated by qRT-PCR for selected miRNA targets. Results demonstrate 24 differentially expressed freeze-responsive miRNAs. Notable, miR-1-3p, a miRNA modulated at low temperature in another cold-hardy insect, and miR-14-3p, a miRNA associated with stress response in the fruit fly, were shown to be significantly up-regulated in -15°C-exposed larvae. Overall, this work identifies, for the first time in a high-throughput manner, differentially expressed miRNAs in cold-exposed E. solidaginis larvae and further clarifies an emerging signature of miRNAs modulated at low temperatures in cold-hardy insects.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada.
Pierre J
PJ
Lyons
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada.
Louise
L
Govaere
Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Pavillon Hôtel-Dieu, 35 Providence Street, Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 8X3, Canada.
Nicolas
N
Crapoulet
Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
Kenneth B
KB
Storey
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada. Electronic address: pier.morin@umoncton.ca.
Pier Jr
PJ
Morin
D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D058639:Cold-Shock Response / Q000235:genetics*; D019295:Computational Biology; D005615:Freezing; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D036624:Solidago / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Cold hardiness; Eurosta solidaginis; Freeze tolerance; MicroRNAs; Next-generation sequencing