title: RNA Interference of the Ecdysone Receptor Genes EcR and USP in Grain Aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) Affects Its Survival and Fecundity upon Feeding on Wheat Plants.
abstract: RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used in functional genomics of insects and received intensive attention in the development of RNAi-based plants for insect control. Ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle protein (USP) play important roles in molting, metamorphosis, and reproduction of insects.EcRandUSPorthologs and their function in grain aphid (Sitobion avenaeF.) have not been documented yet. Here, RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, dsRNA feeding assay and aphid bioassay were employed to isolateEcRandUSPorthologs in grain aphid, investigate their expression patterns, and evaluate the effect of RNAi on aphid survival and fecundity, and its persistence. The results indicated thatSaEcRandSaUSPexhibited similar expression profiles at different developmental stages. Oral administration of dsRNAs ofSaEcRanddsSaUSPsignificantly decreased the survival of aphids due to the down-regulation of these two genes, respectively. The silencing effect was persistent and transgenerational, as demonstrated by the reduced survival and fecundity due to knock-down ofSaEcRandSaUSPin both the surviving aphids and their offspring, even after switching to aphid-susceptible wheat plants. Taken together, our results demonstrate thatSaEcRandSaUSPare essential genes in aphid growth and development, and could be used as RNAi targets for wheat aphid control.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. nmgyanting@sina.com.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. chenchang1934@163.com.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. nuliba_hehe@163.com.
authors.forename: Yongwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. yuxiudao@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiudao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China. xialanqin@caas.cn.
authors.forename: Lanqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017344:Genes, Insect; D060434:Herbivory / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C055469:ecdysone receptor
keywords: RNA interference (RNAi); ecdysone receptor (EcR); grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.); ultraspiracle protein (USP)