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.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-6-2017
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17134-2
Funding Information
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (1R21AI131427-01) and by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, HATCH under 2351177000. I.K.S. and S.S. were supported by UGC India Raman Fellowship.
Related Content
This is publication number 17-08-103 from the Kentucky Agricultural Experimental Station and is published with the approval of the director.
Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17134-2.
Repository Citation
Singh, Indrakant K.; Singh, Satnam; Mogilicherla, Kanakachari; Shukla, Jayendra Nath; and Palli, Subba R., "Comparative Analysis of Double-Stranded RNA Degradation and Processing in Insects" (2017). Entomology Faculty Publications. 132.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/entomology_facpub/132
Supplementary Information
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Scientific Reports, v. 7, article no. 17059, p. 1-12.
© The Author(s) 2017
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