miRNA调控昆虫与病毒互作的研究进展

Research on miRNA regulation on the interaction between insect host and virus

miRNA是一类重要的非编码小分子RNA,可在转录后水平调控基因表达,参与并调控机体的生长发育、细胞分化、细胞凋亡、抗病毒、激素分泌、神经系统等重要生物过程。本文介绍了miRNA的合成途径及其生物学功能,并重点阐述miRNA在昆虫宿主与病毒互作中的调控作用:通过mRNA剪切或抑制靶标蛋白的翻译负调控靶标基因,实现基因沉默,调控约50%的蛋白质编码基因的表达,许多miRNA已被发现在人体和植物中参与调控病毒的复制侵染,因此也有可能控制害虫对病毒抗性的产生,恢复病毒对害虫的防控作用。最近有研究将害虫特异的miRNA转入植物,干扰昆虫蜕皮过程导致幼虫的死亡,作为Bt转基因作物的替代,成为抗虫基因工程的新选择。研究miRNA在昆虫对病毒抗性产生中的作用,将为昆虫抗病毒机制的研究提供新的思路,为害虫生物防治措施的应用及改进提供理论参考。

miRNAs are a class of important non-coding small RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They participate in many important biological processes including growth and development, cell differentiation, apoptosis, antiviral reactions, hormone secretion, and the functioning of the nervous system. This paper introduces the synthetic pathway of miRNA, regulation mechanism and its biological functions. We focus on the illustration of miRNA regulation on the interaction between insect host and virus, gene silencing is achieved by mRNA cleavage or inhibition of translation of the target protein to negatively regulate the target gene, and regulate expression of approximately 50% of the protein-coding gene. Many miRNAs have been found to be involved in the regulation of viral replication in humans and plants. Therefore, it is also possible to control the production of virus resistance by pests and restore the control effect of viruses on pests. Recently, studies have been carried out to transfer pest-specific miRNAs into plants, which interfere with insect molting processes leading to larval death. As a substitute for Bt transgenic crops, it has become a new choice for insect-resistant genetic engineering. Studying the role of miRNAs in the development of insect resistance to viruses will provide new ideas for the study of insect antiviral mechanisms and provide theoretical references for the application and improvement of pest biological control measures.