Key factors determining competitions between double-stranded RNAs in Tribolium castaneum

Xu Shen; Yingchuan Peng; Huifang Song; Jinda Wang; Jun Zhao; Peian Tang; Zhaojun Han; Kangxu Wang

doi:10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.105009

Key factors determining competitions between double-stranded RNAs in Tribolium castaneum

Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2022 Feb:181:105009. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.105009. Epub 2021 Dec 14.

Authors

Xu Shen¹, Yingchuan Peng², Huifang Song³, Jinda Wang², Jun Zhao⁴, Peian Tang¹, Zhaojun Han², Kangxu Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Grain Circulation and security, College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China.
² The Agricultural Ministry Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
³ Faculty of Biological Science & Technology, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China.
⁴ State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Key Laboratory for Green Prevention and Control of Tobacco Diseases and Pests in Huanghuai Tobacco Area, Institute of Tobacco Research, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
⁵ Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Grain Circulation and security, College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China; The Agricultural Ministry Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: wangkx@nufe.edu.cn.

PMID: 35082032
DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.105009

Abstract

Combinatorial delivery of different double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can result in competitive inhibition in insect pests and remains one of the obstacles in the way of future applications of the RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest control. In this study, we attempted to discover the basic competition characteristics between dsRNAs and provided insight into the solutions of competitive inhibition. RNAi sensitive insect species Tribolium castaneum were treated, and competitions between dsRNA fragments influencing the effectiveness of RNAi response could be measured. A chimeric dsRNA strategy for conjugating different dsRNA fragments into a single molecule and a nanoparticle carbon quantum dots-mediated dsRNA delivery were confirmed as efficient methods to knock down multiple target genes simultaneously. Furthermore, in vitro assays were conducted for determining the accumulation speed of serially diluted and incubated dsRNA in the midgut tissues. Our data showed that the accumulation of dsRNAs of different treated amounts was 0.25 μg ≈ 0.5 μg > 1 μg ≥ 2 μg > 4 μg, indicating that accumulation speed would be affected by treated dsRNA. Overall, our results strongly suggest that endocytic components influencing cellular uptake might be oversaturated when an excess amount of dsRNAs were treated, thereby causing competitive inhibition of target genes.

Keywords: Competitive inhibition; Pest control; RNAi; Tribolium castaneum; dsRNAs.

MeSH terms

Animals
RNA Interference
RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
Tribolium* / genetics

Substances

RNA, Double-Stranded