N(alpha)-acetyltransferase 40-mediated histone acetylation plays an important role in ecdysone regulation of metamorphosis in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Histone acetylation, a crucial epigenetic modification, is governed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), that regulate many biological processes. Functions of HATs in insects are not well understood. We identified 27 HATs and determined their functions using RNA interference (RNAi) in the model insect, Tribolium castaneum.

CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Uncovers the Mode of Action of Methoprene in the Yellow Fever Mosquito, .

Methoprene, a juvenile hormone (JH) analog, is widely used for insect control, but its mode of action is not known. To study methoprene action in the yellow fever mosquito, , the (ecdysone-induced transcription factor) was knocked out using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The E93 mutant pupae retained larval tissues similar to methoprene-treated insects.

Juvenile hormone-induced histone deacetylase 3 suppresses apoptosis to maintain larval midgut in the yellow fever mosquito.

SignificanceJuvenile hormone (JH), a sesquiterpenoid, regulates many aspects of insect development, including maintenance of the larval stage by preventing metamorphosis. In contrast, ecdysteroids promote metamorphosis by inducing the transcription factor, which triggers apoptosis of larval cells and remodeling of the larval midgut. We discovered that JH suppresses precocious larval midgut-remodeling by inducing an epigenetic modifier, histone deacetylase 3 ().

Histone deacetylase 1 suppresses Krüppel homolog 1 gene expression and influences juvenile hormone action in .

Posttranslational modifications, including acetylation and deacetylation of histones and other proteins, modulate hormone action. In TcA cells, Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, mimics juvenile hormone (JH) in inducing JH response genes (e.g.

Enhancing RNAi by using concatemerized double-stranded RNA.

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) is a potential tool for functional characterization of genes and also in the management of insect pests. Accumulated literature reveals that the RNAi efficiency varies among insect species and is reported to be less efficient in lepidopteran insects.

Results: We attempted to enhance RNAi efficiency by concatemerizing short double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sequence.

Cap 'n' collar C regulates genes responsible for imidacloprid resistance in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata developed resistance to imidacloprid after exposure to this insecticide for multiple generations. Our previous studies showed that xenobiotic transcription factor, cap 'n' collar isoform C (CncC) regulates the expression of multiple cytochrome P450 genes, which play essential roles in resistance to plant allelochemicals and insecticides. In this study, we sought to obtain a comprehensive picture of the genes regulated by CncC in imidacloprid-resistant CPB.