miR-147b-modulated expression of vestigial regulates wing development in the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi

Abstract

Background: Most aphids exhibit wing polyphenism in which wingless and winged morphs produce depending on the population density and host plant quality. Although the influence of environmental factors on wing polyphenism of aphids have been extensively investigated, molecular mechanisms underlining morph differentiation (i.e. wing development /degeneration), one downstream aspect of the wing polyphenism, has been poorly understood. Results: We examined the expression levels of the twenty genes involved in wing development network, and only vestigial (vg) showed significantly different expression levels in both whole-body and wall-body of third instar nymphs, with 5.4-and 16.14-fold higher expression in winged lines compared to wingless lines, respectively in Rhopalosiphum padi. vg expression was higher in winged lines compared to wingless lines in third, fourth instar nymphs and adults. Larger difference expression was observed in third (21.38-fold) and fourth (20.91-fold) instar nymphs relative to adults (3.12-fold). Suppression of vg using RNAi repressed the wing development of third winged morphs. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that the miR-147 can target the vg mRNA. Modulation of miR-147b levels by microinjection of its agomir (mimic) decreased vg expression levels and repressed wing development. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that vg is essential for wing development in R. padi and that miR-147b modulates its expression.

Effects of miR-306 Perturbation on Life Parameters in the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae)

“…In pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum , overexpression of miR-92a-1-p5 decreases flightin gene expression, resulting in wing deformities and reducing flight capabilities [ 28 ]. In bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi , miR-147b targets and downregulates the vg gene expression, reducing the proportion of winged individuals [ 29 ]. A versatile microRNA, miR-306, influences the development of insect wings and halteres, and the terminal differentiation of male germline in Drosophila [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…To comprehensively assess the effects of miR-306 agomir on the population dynamics of S. avenae , we employed the nanomaterial SPc/adjuvant carrier to precisely deliver miR-306 agomir and interfere to newly hatched nymphs within 24 h. Using the two-sex life table method, which has provided valuable insights into the population ecology of target species, serving as essential tools for assessing population fitness and dynamics [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], we investigated the impact of miR-306 agomir on the growth, development, and reproductive capability of S. avenae . This research aims to contribute to the development of miRNA-based nucleic acid pesticides and provide new molecular targets and methodologies for effective aphid control.…”

miR-92a-1-p5 Modulated Expression of the flightin Gene Regulates Flight Muscle Formation and Wing Extension in the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea)

“…The expression levels of 16 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in winged parthenogenetic individuals, and another 12 miRNAs were abundant in wingless individuals; The target genes of miRNAs were classified in 124 metabolic pathways, including genes in the Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, and TGF-beta signaling pathways ( Li et al 2016 ). Moreover, miR-147b can modulate expression of vestigial to regulate wing development in R. padi ( Fan et al 2020 ). miR-9b mediates wing dimorphism by targeting the ABC transporter AcABCG4, a decrease of aci-miR-9b followed by an increase of ABCG4, this activates the insulin and insulin-like signaling pathway and produces a high proportion of winged offspring in the brown citrus aphid, Aphis citricidus (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) ( Shang et al 2020 ).…”