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Wang JD, Chen YH, Zhang YX, Lin JW, Gao SJ, Tang BZ, Hou YM. Establishment of RNAi-Mediated Pest Control Method for Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta. J Agric Food Chem 2024; 72:10936-10943. [PMID: 38691835 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
RNAi plays a crucial role in insect gene function research and pest control field. Nonetheless, the variable efficiency of RNAi across diverse insects and off-target effects also limited its further application. In this study, we cloned six essential housekeeping genes from Solenopsis invicta and conducted RNAi experiments by orally administering dsRNA. Then, we found that mixing with liposomes significantly enhanced the RNAi efficiency by targeting for SiV-ATPaseE. Additionally, we observed a certain lethal effect of this dsRNA on queens by our established RNAi system. Furthermore, no strict sequence-related off-target effects were detected. Finally, the RNAi effect of large-scale bacteria expressing dsRNA was successfully confirmed for controlling S. invicta. In summary, this study established an RNAi system for S. invicta and provided a research template for the future development of nucleic acid drugs based on RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-da Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - Yao-Hui Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Xin Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Wen Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - San-Ji Gao
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - Bao-Zhen Tang
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
| | - You-Ming Hou
- National Engineering Research Center of Sugarcane, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China
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Wang H, Song J, Hunt BJ, Zuo K, Zhou H, Hayward A, Li B, Xiao Y, Geng X, Bass C, Zhou S. UDP-glycosyltransferases act as key determinants of host plant range in generalist and specialist Spodoptera species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2402045121. [PMID: 38683998 PMCID: PMC11087754 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402045121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Phytophagous insects have evolved sophisticated detoxification systems to overcome the antiherbivore chemical defenses produced by many plants. However, how these biotransformation systems differ in generalist and specialist insect species and their role in determining insect host plant range remains an open question. Here, we show that UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) play a key role in determining the host range of insect species within the Spodoptera genus. Comparative genomic analyses of Spodoptera species that differ in host plant breadth identified a relatively conserved number of UGT genes in generalist species but high levels of UGT gene pseudogenization in the specialist Spodoptera picta. CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts of the three main UGT gene clusters of Spodoptera frugiperda revealed that UGT33 genes play an important role in allowing this species to utilize the poaceous plants maize, wheat, and rice, while UGT40 genes facilitate utilization of cotton. Further functional analyses in vivo and in vitro identified the UGT SfUGT33F32 as the key mechanism that allows generalist S. frugiperda to detoxify the benzoxazinoid DIMBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one), a potent insecticidal phytotoxin produced by poaceous plants. However, while this detoxification capacity is conserved in several generalist Spodoptera species, Spodoptera picta, which specializes on Crinum plants, is unable to detoxify DIMBOA due to a nonfunctionalizing mutation in SpUGT33F34. Collectively, these findings provide insight into the role of insect UGTs in host plant adaptation, the mechanistic basis of evolutionary transitions between generalism and specialism and offer molecular targets for controlling a group of notorious insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huidong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Jing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Benjamin J. Hunt
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Kairan Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Huiru Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Angela Hayward
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Bingbing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Yajuan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Xing Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
| | - Chris Bass
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Shutang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, Henan, China
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3
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Niu J, Chen R, Wang JJ. RNA interference in insects: the link between antiviral defense and pest control. Insect Sci 2024; 31:2-12. [PMID: 37162315 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a form of gene silencing triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that operates in all eukaryotic cells. RNAi has been widely investigated in insects to determine the underlying molecular mechanism, to investigate its role in systemic antiviral defense, and to develop strategies for pest control. When insect cells are infected by viruses, viral dsRNA signatures trigger a local RNAi response to block viral replication and generate virus-derived DNA that confers systemic immunity. RNAi-based insect pest control involves the application of exogenous dsRNA targeting genes essential for insect development or survival, but the efficacy of this approach has limited potency in many pests through a combination of rapid dsRNA degradation, inefficient dsRNA uptake/processing, and ineffective RNAi machinery. This could be addressed by dsRNA screening and evaluation, focusing on dsRNA design and off-target management, as well as dsRNA production and delivery. This review summarizes recent progress to determine the role of RNAi in antiviral defense and as a pest control strategy in insects, addressing gaps between our fundamental understanding of the RNAi mechanism and the exploitation of RNAi-based pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruoyu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Liu T, Dong L, Wang E, Liu S, Cheng Y, Zhao J, Xu S, Liang Z, Ma H, Nie B, Song B. StHAB1, a negative regulatory factor in abscisic acid signaling, plays crucial roles in potato drought tolerance and shoot branching. J Exp Bot 2023; 74:6708-6721. [PMID: 37479226 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) is critical in drought tolerance and plant growth. Group A protein type 2C phosphatases (PP2Cs) are negative regulators of ABA signaling and plant adaptation to stress. Knowledge about the functions of potato group A PP2Cs is limited. Here, we report that the potato group A PP2C StHAB1 is broadly expressed in potato plants and strongly induced by ABA and drought. Suppression of StHAB1 enhanced potato ABA sensitivity and drought tolerance, whereas overexpression of the dominant mutant StHAB1G276D compromised ABA sensitivity and drought tolerance. StHAB1 interacts with almost all ABA receptors and the Snf1-Related Kinase OST1. Suppressing StHAB1 and overexpressing StHAB1G276D alter potato growth morphology; notably, overexpression of StHAB1G276D causes excessive shoot branching. RNA-sequencing analyses identified that the auxin efflux carrier genes StPIN3, StPIN5, and StPIN8 were up-regulated in StHAB1G276D-overexpressing axillary buds. Correspondingly, the auxin concentration was reduced in StHAB1G276D-overexpressing axillary buds, consistent with the role of auxin in repressing lateral branch outgrowth. The expression of BRANCHED1s (StBRC1a and StBRC1b) was unchanged in StHAB1G276D-overexpressing axillary buds, suggesting that StHAB1G276D overexpression does not cause axillary bud outgrowth via regulation of BRC1 expression. Our findings demonstrate that StHAB1 is vital in potato drought tolerance and shoot branching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Liepeng Dong
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Enshuang Wang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shengxuan Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yunxia Cheng
- College of Plant Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, 843300, China
| | - Ji Zhao
- Zhangjiakou Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Zhangjiakou, Hebei 075000, China
| | - Shijing Xu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhen Liang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Zhangjiakou Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Zhangjiakou, Hebei 075000, China
| | - Bihua Nie
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Botao Song
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Fan ST, Wu MZ, Liu C, Li HH, Huang SH, Zheng ZJ, Ye XY, Tan JF, Zhu GH. Azadirachtin Inhibits Nuclear Receptor HR3 in the Prothoracic Gland to Block Larval Ecdysis in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:15497-15505. [PMID: 37843053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Azadirachtin has been used to control agricultural pests for a long time; however, the molecular mechanism of azadirachtin on lepidopterans is still not clear. In this study, the fourth instar larvae of fall armyworm were fed with azadirachtin, and then the ecdysis was blocked in the fourth instar larval stage (L4). The prothoracic glands (PGs) of the treated larvae were dissected for RNA sequencing to determine the effect of azadirachtin on ecdysis inhibition. Interestingly, one of the PG-enriched genes, the nuclear hormone receptor 3 (HR3), was decreased after azadirachtin treatment, which plays a critical role in the 20-hydroxyecdysone action during ecdysis. To deepen the understanding of azadirachtin on ecdysis, the HR3 was knocked out by using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, while the HR3 mutants displayed embryonic lethal phenotype; thus, the stage-specific function of HR3 during larval molting was not enabled to unfold. Hence, the siRNA was injected into the 24 h L4 larvae to knock down HR3. After 96 h, the injected larvae were blocked in the old cuticle during ecdysis which is consistent with the azadirachtin-treated larvae. Taken together, we envisioned that the inhibition of ecdysis in the fall armyworm after the azadirachtin treatment is due to an interference with the expression of HR3 in PG, resulting in larval mortality. The results in this study specified the understanding of azadirachtin on insect ecdysis and the function of HR3 in lepidopteran in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ting Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Mian-Zhi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Hua-Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Shang-Huan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Zi-Jing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Xi-Yu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Jin-Fang Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Guan-Heng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
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Seth RK, Yadav P, Reynolds SE. Dichotomous sperm in Lepidopteran insects: a biorational target for pest management. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1198252. [PMID: 38469506 PMCID: PMC10926456 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1198252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Lepidoptera are unusual in possessing two distinct kinds of sperm, regular nucleated (eupyrene) sperm and anucleate (apyrene) sperm ('parasperm'). Sperm of both types are transferred to the female and are required for male fertility. Apyrene sperm play 'helper' roles, assisting eupyrene sperm to gain access to unfertilized eggs and influencing the reproductive behavior of mated female moths. Sperm development and behavior are promising targets for environmentally safer, target-specific biorational control strategies in lepidopteran pest insects. Sperm dimorphism provides a wide window in which to manipulate sperm functionality and dynamics, thereby impairing the reproductive fitness of pest species. Opportunities to interfere with spermatozoa are available not only while sperm are still in the male (before copulation), but also in the female (after copulation, when sperm are still in the male-provided spermatophore, or during storage in the female's spermatheca). Biomolecular technologies like RNAi, miRNAs and CRISPR-Cas9 are promising strategies to achieve lepidopteran pest control by targeting genes directly or indirectly involved in dichotomous sperm production, function, or persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh K. Seth
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Priya Yadav
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Stuart E. Reynolds
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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Chen W, Amir MB, Liao Y, Yu H, He W, Lu Z. New Insights into the Plutella xylostella Detoxifying Enzymes: Sequence Evolution, Structural Similarity, Functional Diversity, and Application Prospects of Glucosinolate Sulfatases. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:10952-10969. [PMID: 37462091 PMCID: PMC10375594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Brassica plants have glucosinolate (GLs)-myrosinase defense mechanisms to deter herbivores. However, Plutella xylostella specifically feeds on Brassica vegetables. The larvae possess three glucosinolate sulfatases (PxGSS1-3) that compete with plant myrosinase for shared GLs substrates and produce nontoxic desulfo-GLs (deGLs). Although PxGSSs are considered potential targets for pest control, the lack of a comprehensive review has hindered the development of PxGSSs-targeted pest control methods. Recent advances in integrative multi-omics analysis, substrate-enzyme kinetics, and molecular biological techniques have elucidated the evolutionary origin and functional diversity of these three PxGSSs. This review summarizes research progress on PxGSSs over the past 20 years, covering sequence properties, evolution, protein modification, enzyme activity, structural variation, substrate specificity, and interaction scenarios based on functional diversity. Finally, we discussed the potential applications of PxGSSs-targeted pest control technologies driven by artificial intelligence, including CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene drive, transgenic plant-mediated RNAi, small-molecule inhibitors, and peptide inhibitors. These technologies have the potential to overcome current management challenges and promote the development and field application of PxGSSs-targeted pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, School of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Muhammad Bilal Amir
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, School of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yuan Liao
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, School of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Haizhong Yu
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, School of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Weiyi He
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhanjun Lu
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable, School of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
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Xu W, Zhang M, Li Y, He W, Li S, Zhang J. Complete protection from Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata by expressing long double-stranded RNAs in potato plastids. J Integr Plant Biol 2023; 65:1003-1011. [PMID: 36382860 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful technology for pest management. Previously, we have shown that plastid-mediated RNAi (PM-RNAi) can be utilized to control the Colorado potato beetle, an insect pest in the Chrysomelidae family; however, whether this technology is suitable for controlling pests in the Coccinellidae remained unknown. The coccinellid 28-spotted potato ladybird (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata; HV) is a serious pest of solanaceous crops. In this study, we identified three efficient target genes (β-Actin, SRP54, and SNAP) for RNAi using in vitro double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) fed to HV, and found that dsRNAs targeting β-Actin messenger RNA (dsACT) induced more potent RNAi than those targeting the other two genes. We next generated transplastomic and nuclear transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing HV dsACT. Long dsACT stably accumulated to up to 0.7% of the total cellular RNA in the transplastomic plants, at least three orders of magnitude higher than in the nuclear transgenic plants. Notably, the transplastomic plants also exhibited a significantly stronger resistance to HV, killing all larvae within 6 d. Our data demonstrate the potential of PM-RNAi as an efficient pest control measure for HV, extending the application range of this technology to Coccinellidae pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yangcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wanwan He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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9
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Chang H, Xu Z, Li W, Cai C, Wang W, Ge P, Jia X, Li Y, Ding T, Ma W, Banaei-Moghaddam AM, Mo H, Ren M. HDAC3 Knockdown Dysregulates Juvenile Hormone and Apoptosis-Related Genes in Helicoverpa armigera. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36499148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect development requires genes to be expressed in strict spatiotemporal order. The dynamic regulation of genes involved in insect development is partly orchestrated by the histone acetylation-deacetylation via histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Although histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is required for mice during early embryonic development, its functions in Helicoverpa armigera (H. armigera) and its potential to be used as a target of insecticides remain unclear. We treated H. armigera with HDAC3 siRNA and RGFP966, a specific inhibitor, examining how the HDAC3 loss-of-function affects growth and development. HDAC3 siRNA and RGFP966 treatment increased mortality at each growth stage and altered metamorphosis, hampering pupation and causing abnormal wing development, reduced egg production, and reduced hatching rate. We believe that the misregulation of key hormone-related genes leads to abnormal pupa development in HDAC3 knockout insects. RNA-seq analysis identified 2788 differentially expressed genes (≥two-fold change; p ≤ 0.05) between siHDAC3- and siNC-treated larvae. Krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1), was differentially expressed in HDAC3 knockdown larvae. Pathway-enrichment analysis revealed the significant enrichment of genes involved in the Hippo, MAPK, and Wnt signaling pathways following HDAC3 knockdown. Histone H3K9 acetylation was increased in H. armigera after siHDAC3 treatment. In conclusion, HDAC3 knockdown dysregulated juvenile hormone (JH)-related and apoptosis-related genes in H. armigera. The results showed that the HDAC3 gene is a potential target for fighting H. armigera.
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10
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Dong Y, Wu M, Zhang Q, Fu J, Loiacono FV, Yang Y, Wang Z, Li S, Chang L, Bock R, Zhang J. Control of a sap-sucking insect pest by plastid-mediated RNA interference. Mol Plant 2022; 15:1176-1191. [PMID: 35619559 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Expression of double-stranded RNAs in plastids offers great potential for the efficient control of chewing insects. However, many insect pests do not consume plant tissue but rather feed on the host plant by sucking sap from the vascular system. Whether or not plastid-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) can be employed to control sap-sucking insects is unknown. Here, we show that five species of sap-sucking hemipteran insects acquire plastid RNA upon feeding on plants. We generated both nuclear transgenic and transplastomic tobacco plants expressing double-stranded RNAs targeting the MpDhc64C gene, a newly identified efficient target gene of RNAi whose silencing causes lethality to the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. In a whole-plant bioassay, transplastomic plants exhibited significant resistance to aphids, as evidenced by reduced insect survival, impaired fecundity, and decreased weight of survivors. The protective effect was comparable with that conferred by the best-performing nuclear transgenic plants. We found that the proportion of aphids on mature leaves of transplastomic plants was significantly lower compared with that of nuclear transgenic plants. When aphids were allowed to infest only the mature leaves, transplastomic plants grew significantly faster and were overall better protected from the pest compared with nuclear transgenic plants. When monitored by electrical-penetration-graph analyses and aphid avoidance response experiments, the insects displayed remarkable alterations in feeding behavior, which was different in nuclear transgenic and transplastomic plants, likely reflecting specific avoidance strategies to toxic RNA molecules. Taken together, our study demonstrates that plastid-mediated RNAi provides an efficient strategy for controlling at least some sap-sucking insect pests, even though there is most likely no or only very little chloroplast RNA in the sap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Mengting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Jinqiu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - F Vanessa Loiacono
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Yong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zican Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Shengchun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ling Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Ralph Bock
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
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