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。

Application of RNA interference in studying gene functions in insects

RNA interference (RNAi) is a kind of phenomenon that in vitro or in vivo dsRNA induced knockdown of gene expression. RNAi as one of the most promising techniques to knockdown the expression of corresponding gene has been extensively used for sequence-specific loss of gene function in model insects like Drosophila and also in non-model insects. The methods to introduce dsRNA and the functional analysis of gene have been frequently developed, and RNAi technique combined with transgenic technique has been applied to control agricultural pests in recent years. In this review, we described the application and prospect of RNAi technique in studying gene functions in insects and in pest management.