MicroR ‐9c‐5p and novel‐mir50 co‐target Akt to regulate Lasioderma serricorne reproduction

This study identified 2 binding sites ofmiR-9c-5p andnovel-mir50 in the coding sequences ofLsAkt. The expression profiles of 2 microRNAs (miRNAs) andLsAkt displayed an opposite pattern during the adult stages. Luciferase reporter assay showed thatnovel-mir50 andmiR-9c-5p could downregulate the expression ofLsAkt. Overexpression ofmiR-9c-5p andnovel-mir50 by injection of mimics inhibited the expression ofLsAkt and reduced oviposition, decreased egg hatchability, and blocked ovarian development. It also decreased the expression of genes involved in ovarian development (LsVg andLsVgR) and the nutritional signaling pathway (LsTOR,LsS6K, andLs4EBP), and reduced the phosphorylation of Akt. Conversely, injection ofmiR-9c-5p andnovel-mir50 inhibitors induced the expressions ofLsAkt,LsVg,LsVgR,LsTOR,LsS6K, andLs4EBP, enhanced Akt phosphorylation level, and accelerated ovarian development. Injection of bovine insulin downregulated the expression ofmiR-9c-5p andnovel-mir50 and upregulated theLsAkt expression. It also rescued the reproductive development defects associated withmiR-9c-5p/novel-mir50 overexpression, forming a positive regulatory loop of insulin signaling. These results indicate thatmiR-9c-5p/novel-mir50 regulates the female reproduction ofL. serricorne by targetingAkt in response to insulin signaling. The data also demonstrate the effects of the insulin/miRNA/Akt regulatory axis in insect reproduction.
Source: Insect Science - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research