Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) based methods are being developed for pest management. A few products for control of coleopteran pests are expected to be commercialized soon. However, variability in RNAi efficiency among insects is preventing the widespread use of this technology. In this study, we conducted research to identify reasons for variability in RNAi efficiency among thirty-seven (37) insects belonging to five orders. Studies on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) degradation by dsRNases and processing of labeled dsRNA to siRNA showed that both dsRNA degradation and processing are variable among insects belonging to different orders as well as among different insect species within the same order. We identified homologs of key RNAi genes in the genomes of some of these insects and studied their domain architecture. These data suggest that dsRNA digestion by dsRNases and its processing to siRNAs in the cells are among the major factors contributing to differential RNAi efficiency reported among insects.

Details

Title
Comparative analysis of double-stranded RNA degradation and processing in insects
Author
Singh, Indrakant K 1 ; Singh, Satnam 2 ; Mogilicherla, Kanakachari 3 ; Shukla, Jayendra Nath 4 ; Subba Reddy Palli 3 

 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Agriculture Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Molecular Biology Research Lab., Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India 
 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Agriculture Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Station, Faridkot, Punjab, India 
 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Agriculture Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA 
 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Agriculture Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India 
Pages
1-12
Publication year
2017
Publication date
Dec 2017
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1983423396
Copyright
© 2017. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.