非编码RNA调控真社会性昆虫品级分化和个体分工的研究进展

Advances in non-coding RNA of caste determination and labor division in eusocial insects

真社会性昆虫是最具代表性的表型可塑性的研究对象之一,其个体之间分工协作的社会性生活方式增强了整个群体的环境适应性和繁殖力。真社会性昆虫虽然具有相同的遗传背景,个体之间却表现出明显的品级分化和个体分工,这是由环境和遗传共同影响的。表观遗传被认为是应对环境条件下重塑基因表达的主要机制,非编码RNA作为一类广泛参与机体生命活动的不编码蛋白的功能性RNA,在真社会性昆虫的品级分化、个体分工等方面起着重要的调控作用。本文从微小RNA、长链非编码RNA、环状RNA、与PIWI蛋白相作用的RNA等非编码RNA,对蜜蜂、蚂蚁及白蚁等真社会性昆虫的非编码RNA调控机制研究进展进行了综述,以加深对真社会性昆虫内在遗传分子基础的理解和认识,也为害虫防治领域提供新的研发视角。

Eusocial insects are one of the most representative subjects for the study of phenotypic plasticity.Due to their cooperation and labor division,the whole group can efficiently adapt to the variable environments and maintain the reproductive success of the population.Although sharing the same genome,eusocial insects always exhibit different caste structures and labor division,which are controlled by both environment factors and genetics.Epigenetic genetics has been recognized as the main mechanism for remodeling gene expression in response to environmental conditions.Non-coding RNA(ncRNA),one of functional RNAs that widely involved in organismal life activities,plays an important role on caste determination and labor division in eusocial insects.This article reviewed the research progress on the mechanisms of ncRNAs,including microRNA(miRNA),long non-coding RNA(lncRNA),circular RNA(circRNA),and PIWI-interacting RNA(piRNA)in honeybees,ants and termites.It deepens the understanding of the molecular basis in eusocial insects,and also provides new perspectives on pest control.