Condensation of ZFP207 and U1 snRNP promotes spliceosome assembly.

The U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) has an essential role in initiating spliceosome assembly, yet the mechanism underlying its synergy with other splicing regulators for efficient spliceosome assembly remains elusive. Here we identify zinc finger protein 207 (ZFP207) as a key regulator of U1 snRNP function that substantially promotes spliceosome assembly. Acute depletion of ZFP207 results in a series of molecular phenotypes indicative of U1 snRNP dysregulation.

Base-resolution mC profiling across the mammalian transcriptome by bisulfite-free enzyme-assisted chemical labeling approach.

5-methylcytosine (mC) is a prevalent RNA modification crucial for gene expression regulation. However, accurate and sensitive mC sites identification remains challenging due to severe RNA degradation and reduced sequence complexity during bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq). Here, we report mC-TAC-seq, a bisulfite-free approach combining TET-assisted mC-to-fC oxidation with selective chemical labeling, therefore enabling direct base-resolution mC detection through pre-enrichment and C-to-T transitions at mC sites.

Ecdysone signaling mediates the trade-off between immunity and reproduction via suppression of amyloids in the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The balance between immunity and reproduction is essential for many key physiological functions. We report that to maintain an optimal fertility, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and the ecdysone receptor (EcR) downregulate the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway during the post blood meal phase (PBM) of the Aedes aegypti reproductive cycle. RNA interference-mediated depletion of EcR elicited an increased expression of the IMD pathway components, and these mosquitoes were more resistant to infection by Gram-negative bacteria.

Juvenile Hormone-Sensitive Ribosomal Activity Enhances Viral Replication in Aedes aegypti.

Zika virus (ZIKV; ) is a devastating virus transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The interaction of the virus with the mosquito vector is poorly known. The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated interruption or activation of immunity-related genes in the Toll, IMD, JAK-STAT, and short interfering RNA (siRNA) pathways did not affect ZIKV infection in A.

Effects of zinc acquired through the plant-aphid-ladybug food chain on the growth, development and fertility of Harmonia axyridis.

Heavy metal pollution is an increasingly serious problem in agricultural ecosystems. Zinc accumulation in the food chain may harm the physiological functions of organisms, including herbivorous and predatory insects. Its effects on development and reproduction in Harmonia axyridis are largely unknown.

Three novel trehalase genes from (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): cloning and regulation in response to rapid cold and re-warming.

Trehalose is the main blood sugar in insects. To study the function of trehalase during exposure to low temperatures, three other novel cDNAs of trehalase were cloned from by transcriptome sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. One of the cloned cDNAs encoded a soluble trehalase, the second trehalase cDNA encoded a transmembrane-like domain, and the third cDNA encoded a membrane-bound protein.

Aedes aegypti HPX8C modulates immune responses against viral infection.

Mosquitoes act as vectors of numerous pathogens that cause human diseases. Dengue virus (DENV) transmitted by mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is responsible for dengue fever epidemics worldwide with a serious impact on human health. Currently, disease control mainly relies on vector targeted intervention strategies.

Effects of starvation on the carbohydrate metabolism in (Pallas).

Trehalose plays an important role in energy storage, metabolism, and protection from extreme environmental conditions in insects. Trehalose is the main blood sugar in insects, and it can be rapidly used as an energy source in times of need. To elucidate the mechanisms of the starvation response, we observed the effects of starvation on trehalose and glycogen, trehalase activity, and the relative gene expression of genes in the trehalose and glycogen metabolic pathways in the invasive beetle Our results show that trehalose levels and the activities of two types of trehalases decreased significantly in the first 8 h of starvation, while the relative expression of increased.

Transcriptome analysis and identification of induced genes in the response of Harmonia axyridis to cold hardiness.

Harmonia axyridis is an important predatory lady beetle that is a natural enemy of agricultural and forestry pests. In this research, the cold hardiness induced genes and their expression changes in H. axyridis were screened and detected by the way of the transcriptome and qualitative real-time PCR under normal and low temperatures, using high-throughput transcriptome and digital gene-expression-tag technologies.

Molecular Cloning and Induced Expression of Six Small Heat Shock Proteins Mediating Cold-Hardiness in (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

The main function of small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) as molecular chaperones is to protect proteins from denaturation under adverse conditions. Molecular and physiological data were used to examine the sHSPs underlying cold-hardiness in . Complementary DNA sequences were obtained for six sHSPs based on its transcriptome, and the expression of the genes coding for these sHSPs was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in several developmental stages, under short-term cooling or heating conditions, and in black and yellow females of experimental and overwintering populations under low-temperature storage.

Knockdown of five trehalase genes using RNA interference regulates the gene expression of the chitin biosynthesis pathway in Tribolium castaneum.

Background: RNA interference is a very effective approach for studies on gene function and may be an efficient method for controlling pests. Trehalase is a key gene in the chitin biosynthesis pathway in insects. Five trehalase genes have been cloned in Tribolium castaneum, though it is not known whether the detailed functions of these trehalases can be targeted for pest control.

Functional characterization of three trehalase genes regulating the chitin metabolism pathway in rice brown planthopper using RNA interference.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective gene-silencing tool, and double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is considered a powerful strategy for gene function studies in insects. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the function of trehalase (TRE) genes (TRE 1-1, TRE 1-2, and TRE-2) isolated from the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, a typical piercing-sucking insect in rice, and investigate their regulating roles in chitin synthesis by injecting larvae with dsRNA. The results showed that TRE1 and TRE2 had compensatory function, and the expression of each increased when the other was silenced.

Two novel soluble trehalase genes cloned from Harmonia axyridis and regulation of the enzyme in a rapid changing temperature.

In previous studies, we have cloned two soluble trehalase genes (HaTreh1-1 and HaTreh1-2) from the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis. Here, we obtained the other two novel genes (HaTreh1-3 and HaTreh1-4) by transcriptome sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Generally, anabolism enhancement and catabolism inhibition together contribute to accumulation of trehalose, and trehalase is the key enzyme to start the catabolism of trehalose.