Walker, William
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Abstract
The prospects for development of highly specific pesticides based on double stranded ribonucleic acid have been a recent focus of scientific research. Creative applications have been proposed and demonstrated. However, not all insects are sensitive to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) gene knockdown effects; applications in the order Lepidoptera, for example, have met with varied success. Gene knockdown has been demonstrated in several species in the order Hemiptera. In our laboratory, knockdown experiments relied on microinjection of dsRNA into the hemocoel of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris. Subsequent experiments delivering dsRNA to insects by feeding were repeatedly unsuccessful in demonstrating knockdown, and a hypothesis was formulated that the dsRNA was digested and degraded by the insect prior to contact with the insect cells. Exposure of dsRNA to insect saliva, insect salivary glands, and insect hemolymph was compared with commercial RNAase III. The saliva of L. lineolaris was found to rapidly digest double stranded RNA. RNAase inhibitor did not affect the activity but heat treatment slowed enzymatic activity. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords
Double stranded ribonucleic acid; Lygus lineolaris; Tarnished plant bug; RNA interference; Ribonuclease
Published in
Journal of Insect Physiology
2012, volume: 58, number: 3, pages: 391-396
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Zoology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.12.014
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/88038