跨界小RNA调控昆虫与寄主植物及病原微生物互作的研究进展

Research progress on cross-kingdom regulation of small RNA in interactions of insects with host plants and pathogenic microorganisms

小RNA(small RNA,sRNA)是一类序列短于300 bp的非编码RNA,它在生物体的细胞生长、分裂、分化、增殖和凋亡过程中发挥着重要的调控作用。近年来的多项研究表明,sRNA还可以作为信号分子在物种之间传递,以跨界方式发挥调控作用。除了视觉和化学信息,生物个体之间还可以利用多种分子信号传递和实现信息交流,其中,sRNA分子不仅可以在生物个体内移动和调控基因表达,还可以作为1种分子信号跨越物种发挥动物、植物和微生物互作关系的信息纽带作用。作为地球上物种数量最多、生态位最丰富的类群,昆虫体内存在多种外源sRNA分子。本文分析了sRNA介导跨界调控的分子基础,综述了近年来关于外源sRNA通过生物互作进入昆虫体内,跨界调控昆虫基因表达,影响昆虫与寄主植物及病原微生物之间互作关系的研究进展,并分析了sRNA介导的跨界RNAi对昆虫生态适应性的影响以及在害虫防控中的应用前景。昆虫和植物之间sRNA分子的跨界转移可以调控植物抗虫性和社会性昆虫的品级分化,微生物的sRNA进入昆虫体内可以辅助病原微生物的侵染或影响寄生蜂的发育。利用基因工程改造或人工表达外源sRNA进行跨界调控是研发害虫高效生防产品的新途径。

Small RNA(sRNA)is a class of non-coding RNA with the sequence length shorter than 300 bp.It plays important roles in regulation of cell growth,division,differentiation,proliferation and apoptosis.A number of studies in recent years have found the interspecific transmission of sRNAs and their regulatory roles as signaling molecules in a cross-kingdom manner.In addition to visual and chemical information,organisms can also communicate via various molecular signals.sRNA can serve as a molecule signal linking animals,plants,and microorganisms,for its mobility and regulatory role in gene expression,not only within organism,but also across species.Insects,with the largest number of species and occupying the most abundant niches on earth,have been found owing a variety of exogenous sRNA molecules inside their bodies.In the article,we analyzed the molecular basis that sRNA mediates the cross-kingdom regulation,summarized the recent research progress on cross-kingdom sRNAs,which enter insect bodies through biological interaction,regulate gene expression in insects,and affect interactions of insects with their host plants and pathogenic microorganisms.We also discussed the influences of sRNA-mediated cross-kingdom RNAi on the ecological adaptability of insects and their prospective application in pest control.Cross-kingdom transfer of sRNA molecules between insects and plants can regulate plant resistance to insect pests and caste differentiation of social insects.Cross-kingdom regulation of sRNA from microorganisms can assist the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms in insects or affect the development of parasitic wasps.Based on genetic engineering,cross-kingdom regulation with modified or artificially expressed exogenous sRNA would be a new approach for development of efficient biological control products for insect pest control.