The Potential Role of the Piwi Gene in the Development and Reproduction of Plutella xylostella

Abstract

Piwi proteins play a significant role in germ cell development and the silencing of transposons in animals by associating with small non-coding RNAs known as Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). While the Piwi gene has been well characterized in various insect species, the role of the Piwi (PxPiwi) gene in the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a globally distributed pest of cruciferous crops, remains unclear. Expression analysis demonstrated the upregulation of PxPiwi in pupae and testes. Furthermore, we generated a PxPiwi-knockout mutant using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which resulted in a significantly prolonged pupal stage and the failure of pupae to develop into adults. Additionally, the knockdown of PxPiwi, through RNA interference (RNAi), led to a substantial decrease in the oviposition and hatchability of P. xylostella. These findings indicate that PxPiwi is specifically expressed and essential for the development and reproduction of P. xylostella. This is the first report indicating the involvement of the Piwi gene in the development of lepidopteran insects, except for reproduction and germ cell development, which provides a foundation for future investigations into the functions of PxPiwi.

Hsp70 and Hsp90 Elaborately Regulate RNAi Efficiency in Plutella xylostella

“…RNAi-based products can specifically silence lethal genes to cause insect mortality in an environmentally friendly manner [31,32]. On the other hand, RNAi efficiency is variable in P. xylostella, where RNAi works inefficiently through dsRNA microinjection, dsRNA-producing engineer bacteria and transgenic plants [33][34][35][36]. Therefore, it is imperative to comprehensively understand the RNAi pathway in lepidopteran insects.…”