RNA干扰技术在昆虫学领域研究进展

RNA干扰(RNAi)是生物体内源基因发生转录后特异性降解的一种生理现象,广泛存在于生物体内。RNAi主要由小干扰RNA诱发阻碍目的基因的翻译或转录,造成目标信使RNA沉默。RNAi具有高效、特异性强等优点,被广泛应用于昆虫基因功能研究,并显示出了开发新型病虫害管理策略的巨大潜力。主要阐述了RNAi的沉默机制,双链RNA转入昆虫体内的几种方式,以及RNAi技术在不同目昆虫中研究的最新进展。最后,对RNAi技术存在的不足之处进行了简单总结,还对RNAi技术在害虫防治中的应用进行了展望,以期为该技术广泛应用于农业害虫防治提供理论支持。     

基于工程菌高效合成靶向昆虫基因的dsRNA的方法

外源或内源双链RNA(dsRNA)可以干扰昆虫基因的表达。目前,利用RNA干扰(RNAi)技术防治农业害虫已经取得了一定进展,但高昂的dsRNA合成成本是RNAi技术在田间应用的主要限制因素。本方法利用L4440质粒和大肠杆菌HT115(DE3)菌株,建立了一种经济、高效的昆虫靶标基因dsRNA合成方法。与商业化的dsRNA合成试剂盒相比,工程菌合成dsRNA的方法大幅降低了dsRNA的合成成本。本方法将为大规模昆虫基因功能解析和RNAi制剂的田间应用提供可能,有望促进以RNAi为核心的害虫防治技术的实践和发展。     

RNA干扰在昆虫中的作用机理及应用进展

RNA干扰（RNAi）是生物体内源基因发生转录后特异性降解的一种生理现象,作为抵抗病毒的免疫机制,广泛存在于生物体内。RNAi在秀丽隐杆线虫中的发生机制已明确,但昆虫的系统性RNAi不同于线虫,在昆虫中尚未发现线虫跨膜蛋白SID．2的同源蛋白,且果蝇中不存在依赖于RNA的RNA聚合酶（RdRP）,但存在具有相似活性的物质。昆虫发生RNAi的效率不仅与靶标基因自身及双链RNA的选择有关,而且与虫体的发育状态及摄入双链RNA的剂量相关。随着RNAi在昆虫中作用特点的阐明,RNAi的应用价值也逐渐体现。近年来,通过RNAi沉默靶标基因,不但促进了昆虫基因功能研究的发展,而且被广泛用于重要农业害虫抗药性基因的研究。最新研究表明,RNAi结合第2代测序技术,针对非模式昆虫,能迅速找到具有致死效应的靶标序列,加快了利用RNAi技术生产生物农药的步伐。     

RNAi技术在昆虫功能基因研究中的应用进展

RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）是指外源或内源的双链RNA（dsRNA）特异性地引起基因表达沉默的现象,它作为一种有效的工具用来产生转录后沉默,从而抑制特定基因的表达,成为基因功能研究的一种新方法,除了在模式昆虫如果蝇Drosophila中广泛应用之外,也在非模式昆虫中得到成功应用。近年来,RNAi技术在导入方法和基因功能分析方面都取得了飞速发展,且与转基因技术相结合成功应用于害虫防治领域。本文综述了RNAi技术在导入方法、昆虫功能基因组功能分析及害虫防治等领域新近的研究成果,并展望了该技术的应用前景。     

植物介导的害虫RNA干扰

摘要: 应用植物介导的昆虫RNAi进行害虫防治近10年来受到了广泛的关注,其作用机理包括两个阶段,首先是害虫靶标基因dsRNA在植物体内的表达、运输和贮存,然后是害虫取食该植物后,dsRNA特异性抑制害虫体内靶标基因的表达。目前,植物介导的昆虫RNAi主要针对鳞翅目、鞘翅目和同翅目害虫,可以引起害虫生长发育的异常,导致死亡/繁殖力下降,甚至影响到其子代的生长。影响植物介导昆虫RNAi效率的因素主要包括害虫靶标基因的选择、dsRNA靶定位点及长度、植物表达dsRNA载体的结构和转基因植物的遗传转化方式等。植物介导昆虫RNAi防治害虫的策略也面临着潜在的安全性问题,如转基因植物安全性和RNAi潜在脱靶性等。随着植物介导昆虫RNAi技术的成熟,该方法有望成为害虫防治的新策略。     

昆虫RNAi效率的影响因素研究进展

RNA干扰(RNAi)是一种在动植物中广泛存在的、由双链RNA诱发的、导致mRNA特异性沉默的过程.简单总结昆虫RNAi的研究现状,从理论和实践两个方面重点介绍昆虫RNAi效率影响因素的研究进展,最后对昆虫RNAi应用于害虫防治的前景进行展望.     

系统RNA干扰及在昆虫中的应用

系统性是RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)在植物和线虫中的一个重要特性,即RNAi沉默信号可以在细胞和组织间进行传递,近年来研究发现某些昆虫中也存在系统RNAi现象.RNAi技术对很多领域的发展具有重要的促进作用,包括功能基因组学和害虫防治等领域.综述线虫,昆虫的系统性RNAi研究概况以及RNAi在昆虫领域的应用现状,并展望其应用前景.     

RNAi递送系统在害虫防治中的研究进展

RNAi是由dsRNA引发的,靶向目的 基因的高效与特异的基因沉默技术.由于其高效性、特异性和便捷性,RNAi技术广泛应用于基因功能研究、高通量目的 基因筛选、基因治疗、药物靶标预测和农业病虫害防治等领域.考虑到RNAi效率、安全性和预期靶基因下调的潜在障碍,RNAi提供高效防治应用的前提是以合适的方式递送效应RNA.本文对近期农业重要性害虫和病媒害虫防治应用中开发的RNAi递送系统进行综述,对这些RNAi递送系统的干扰效率和多重进入位点作了比较,并展望了RNAi递送系统在害虫防治中的应用,以期更好地完善RNAi技术在昆虫学研究和害虫防治中的应用.     

基因枪在RNA干扰中的应用研究进展

RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）是指双链RNA（double-strand RNA,dsRNA）特异性降解同源mRNA,从而引发基因转录后水平沉默的现象,是一种高效、高特异性抑制基因表达的途径。自1998年Fire等发现RNA干扰现象以来,其特异性降解目的基因的优势吸引了众多研究者的目光。本文在简要综述RNAi技术在基因功能研究、抗病毒治疗,肿瘤基因治疗等领域的应用后,重点归纳了基因枪技术在RNAi研究即siRNA导入细胞中的应用,并简单分析其优势与意义。     

Feasibility,limitation and possible solutions of RNAi‐based technology for insect pest control

Abstract Numerous studies indicate that target gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) could lead to insect death. This phenomenon has been considered as a potential strategy for insect pest control, and it is termed RNAi‐mediated crop protection. However, there are many limitations using RNAi‐based technology for pest control, with the effectiveness target gene selection and reliable double‐strand RNA (dsRNA) delivery being two of the major challenges. With respect to target gene selection, at present, the use of homologous genes and genome‐scale high‐throughput screening are the main strategies adopted by researchers. Once the target gene is identified, dsRNA can be delivered by micro‐injection or by feeding as a dietary component. However, micro‐injection, which is the most common method, can only be used in laboratory experiments. Expression of dsRNAs directed against insect genes in transgenic plants and spraying dsRNA reagents have been shown to induce RNAi effects on target insects. Hence, RNAi‐mediated crop protection has been considered as a potential new‐generation technology for pest control, or as a complementary method of existing pest control strategies; however, further development to improve the efficacy of protection and range of species affected is necessary. In this review, we have summarized current research on RNAi‐based technology for pest insect management. Current progress has proven that RNAi technology has the potential to be a tool for designing a new generation of insect control measures. To accelerate its practical application in crop protection, further study on dsRNA uptake mechanisms based on the knowledge of insect physiology and biochemistry is needed.     

Mechanisms of dsRNA uptake in insects and potential of RNAi for pest control: A review

RNA interference already proved its usefulness in functional genomic research on insects, but it also has considerable potential for the control of pest insects. For this purpose, the insect should be able to autonomously take up the dsRNA, for example through feeding and digestion in its midgut. In this review we bring together current knowledge on the uptake mechanisms of dsRNA in insects and the potential of RNAi to affect pest insects. At least two pathways for dsRNA uptake in insects are described: the transmembrane channel-mediated uptake mechanism based on Caenorhabditis elegans’ SID-1 protein and an ‘alternative’ endocytosis-mediated uptake mechanism. In the second part of the review dsRNA feeding experiments on insects are brought together for the first time, highlighting the achievement of implementing RNAi in insect control with the first successful experiments in transgenic plants and the diversity of successfully tested insect orders/species and target genes. We conclude with points of discussion and concerns regarding further research on dsRNA uptake mechanisms and the promising application possibilities for RNAi in insect control.     

Lipids help double-stranded RNA in endosomal escape and improve RNA interference in the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda

RNA interference (RNAi) is a valuable method for understanding the gene function and holds great potential for insect pest management. While RNAi is efficient and systemic in coleopteran insects, RNAi is inefficient in lepidopteran insects. In this study, we explored the possibility of improving RNAi in the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda cells by formulating dsRNA with Cellfectin II (CFII) transfection reagent. The CFII formulated dsRNA was protected from degradation by endonucleases present in Sf9 cells conditioned medium, hemolymph and midgut lumen contents collected from the FAW larvae. Lipid formulated dsRNA also showed reduced accumulation in the endosomes of Sf9 cells and FAW tissues. Exposing Sf9 cells and tissues to CFII formulated dsRNA caused a significant knockdown of endogenous genes. CFII formulated dsIAP fed to FAW larvae induced knockdown of iap gene, growth retardation and mortality. Processing of dsRNA into siRNA was detected in Sf9 cells and Spodoptera frugiperda larvae treated with CFII conjugated ³²P-UTP labeled dsGFP. Overall, the present study concluded that delivering dsRNA formulated with CFII transfection reagent helps dsRNA escapes from the endosomal accumulation and improved RNAi efficiency in the FAW cells and tissues.     

Delivery of dsRNA for RNAi in insects: an overview and future directions

Abstract RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the process of exogenous double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) silencing the complementary endogenous messenger RNA. RNAi has been widely used in entomological research for functional genomics in a variety of insects and its potential for RNAi‐based pest control has been increasingly emphasized mainly because of its high specificity. This review focuses on the approaches of introducing dsRNA into insect cells or insect bodies to induce effective RNAi. The three most common delivery methods, namely, microinjection, ingestion, and soaking, are illustrated in details and their advantages and limitations are summarized for purpose of feasible RNAi research. In this review, we also briefly introduce the two possible dsRNA uptake machineries, other dsRNA delivery methods and the history of RNAi in entomology. Factors that influence the specificity and efficiency of RNAi such as transfection reagents, selection of dsRNA region, length, and stability of dsRNA in RNAi research are discussed for further studies.     

昆虫RNAi通路及其核心元件的研究综述

RNAi作为分子生物学的一种重要技术,在昆虫基因功能和功能基因组研究中得到广泛应用,同时,有关昆虫RNAi的机制也受到了大家的关注。近年来的研究结果表明,昆虫RNAi的通路与其他动物相同,根据引起基因沉默的RNA分子的类型,可以分为siRNA、miRNA和piRNA 3种不同的通路。昆虫RNAi通路中的核心元件包括了:(1)行使切割作用的RNaseⅢ家族成员Drosha和Dicer;(2)用来降解目的 mRNA的Argonaute蛋白;(3)dsRNA结合蛋白Pasha、R2D2和Loquacious。了解昆虫RNAi的通路及其核心元件,有助于我们更好地理解昆虫RNAi的分子机制和改进实现RNAi的方法,对促进昆虫RNAi技术的研究及其在害虫防控中的应用具有指导意义。     

Chitosan nanoparticles help double-stranded RNA escape from endosomes and improve RNA interference in the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising technology for the development of next-generation insect pest control products. Though RNAi is efficient and systemic in coleopteran insects, it is inefficient and variable in lepidopteron insects. In this study, we explored the possibility of improving RNAi in the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda by conjugating double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with biodegradable chitosan (Chi). dsRNA conjugated with chitosan was protected from degradation by endonucleases present in Sf9 cell-conditioned medium, hemolymph, and midgut lumen contents collected from the FAW larvae. Chi–dsRNA complexes showed reduced accumulation in the endosomes of Sf9 cells and FAW tissues. Exposing chitosan formulated dsRNA in Sf9 cells and the tissues induced a significant knockdown of endogenous genes. Chi–dsIAP fed to FAW larvae induced knockdown of iap gene, growth retardation, and mortality. Processing of dsRNA into small interfering RNA was detected with chitosan-conjugated ³²P-UTP-labeled ds green fluorescent protein in Sf9 cells and FAW larval tissues. Overall, these data suggest that dsRNA conjugated with chitosan helps dsRNA escape from the endosomes and improves RNAi efficiency in FAW cells and tissues.