昆虫学报 ›› 2021, Vol. 64 ›› Issue ( 2): 259-280.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2021.02.013

• 综 述 • 上一篇    下一篇

昆虫miRNA研究进展

杨婕1,2,3,#, 谢苗1,2,3,4,#, 徐雪娇1,2,3, 白建林1,2,3, 尤民生1,2,3,*   

  1. (1. 福建农林大学, 闽台作物有害生物生态防控国家重点实验室, 福州350002; 2. 福建农林大学应用生态研究所, 福州350002;
    3. 福建农林大学, 教育部害虫生态防控国际合作联合实验室, 福州350002; 4. 福建农林大学生命科学学院, 福州350002)
  • 出版日期:2021-02-20 发布日期:2021-03-11

Research progress of insect miRNAs

YANG Jie1,2,3,#, XIE Miao1,2,3,4,#, XU Xue-Jiao1,2,3, BAI Jian-Lin1,2,3, YOU Min-Sheng1,2,3,*   

  1.  (1. State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 2. Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 3. Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 4. College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China)
  • Online:2021-02-20 Published:2021-03-11

摘要:  微小RNA(microRNA, miRNA)广泛存在于不同的生物体内,是一类长度为19~24 nt的内源性单链非编码小RNA,主要通过其种子区域与靶基因的开放阅读框(open reading frame, ORF)和3′非翻译区(untranslated region, UTR)进行结合,进而在转录后水平调控基因表达,miRNA在细胞分化、增殖、凋亡等多种生物学过程中均起着重要作用。随着miRNA逐渐成为生命科学研究的热点,其在昆虫中的研究也不断深入并取得了较大进展,高通量测序技术以及生物信息学的发展加快了各个物种中miRNA的鉴定,为后续miRNA相关研究提供了理论基础。直接克隆、生物信息学预测以及高通量测序都可以对不同物种中的miRNA进行鉴定,并通过miRNA基因芯片分析、Northern blot及实时荧光定量PCR(RTqPCR)检测miRNA表达水平,对其进行抑制表达或过表达可以进一步揭示miRNA的生物功能。miRNA通过参与蜕皮激素通路及调节蜕皮激素受体、性别分化、翅发育、脂质代谢和卵巢发育等相关基因的表达对昆虫的生长发育和生殖过程产生重要影响。某些昆虫的昼夜节律、记忆形成、学习能力等行为过程也不乏miRNA参与。在病毒与昆虫互作过程中,一些病毒编码的miRNA通过调节宿主基因表达,干扰宿主昆虫对病毒的免疫反应,而昆虫编码的miRNA则可以影响病毒复制。昆虫miRNA也可以通过调节自身免疫相关基因的表达,影响其先天免疫功能,在昆虫对外源病原物的免疫反应中发挥重要作用。此外,昆虫miRNA通过负向调控解毒相关基因的表达而形成或增强杀虫剂抗性,改变对农药的敏感性,在昆虫抗药性中发挥作用。本综述为进一步了解昆虫miRNA提供了理论基础,也为其在害虫综合治理中的应用提供依据。

关键词: 昆虫, miRNA, 转录后调调控, 靶基因, 宿主病毒互作

Abstract:  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 19-24 nt endogenous non-coding small RNAs universally existing in various organisms. MiRNAs can regulate gene expression mainly by the combination between its seed region and the ORF or 3′UTR of target genes at the posttranscriptional level, and play critical roles in multiple biological processes including cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. As miRNAs have eventually become a research hotspot in life sciences, great advances have been made in the study of insect miRNAs. The development of highthroughput sequencing and bioinformatics have accelerated the identification of miRNAs in different species, providing the theoretical basis for subsequent research. MiRNAs can be identified with direct cloning, bioinformatics prediction and highthroughput sequencing while their expression levels can be detected through miRNA gene chip analysis, Northern blot and realtime quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Inhibition of expression or overexpression of miRNAs can be applied to further reveal their biological functions. MiRNAs exert significant influence on insect growth and reproduction process by participating in ecdysone pathway and regulating the expression of some related genes such as genes related to ecdysone receptor, sex differentiation, wing development, lipid metabolism and ovarian development. MiRNAs are also involved in the circadian rhythm, memory formation and leaning capacity of some insects. In the progress of insect-virus interaction, a number of virus-encoded miRNAs disturb the immune response of host insects by regulating target gene expression while the insectencoded miRNAs influence virus replication. MiRNAs have also been found to participate in insect immune response against exogenous pathogens via regulating the expression of immunerelated genes, which affect innate immune response of insects. Additionally, it has been reported that miRNAs develop or enhance insecticide resistance by negatively regulating the expression of detoxification-related genes, altering insect susceptibility to insecticides and contributing to insecticide resistance in insects. This review provides a theoretical basis for further understanding of insect miRNAs and their potential applications in integrated pest management.

Key words: Insect, miRNA, post-transcriptional regulation, target gene, host-virus interaction