CRISPR/Cas9 ‐based mutation reveals Argonaute 1 is essential for pigmentation in Ostrinia furnacalis

In this report, we identified only one transcript ofO.furnacalis Argonaute 1 (OfAgo1) gene from the genome and cloned the open reading frame.OfAgo1 presented the maximum expression at the embryo stage or in the fat body during the larval stages. To understand its function, anOfAgo1 mutant was constructed using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/RNA ‐guided Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9). Mutagenesis ofOfAgo1 disrupted cuticle pigmentation by down ‐regulating micro RNAs and pigmentation‐related genes. This is the first report for the cloning and functional analysis ofOfAgo1, revealing a role ofOfAgo1 in cuticle pigmentation. The current report also established a CRISPR/Cas9 system inO.furnacalis, providing a new insight for pest management.

Source: Insect Science - August 9, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: Lang You, Hong ‐Lun Bi, Yao‐Hui Wang, Xiao‐Wei Li, Xi‐En Chen, Zhi‐Qian Li Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research