The miR‐31b targets arylsulfatase B to regulate the ovarian development of Bactrocera dorsalis

• Published in: Pest management science Vol. 81; no. 2; pp. 1094 - 1102
• Main Authors: Yu, Shan‐Shan, Zhang, Qiang, Zheng, Li‐Yuan, Xie, Qian‐Ping, Wang, Jin‐Jun, Dou, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.02.2025; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; arthropods; Arylsulfatase; Arylsulfatases - genetics; Arylsulfatases - metabolism; Bactrocera dorsalis; Bioinformatics; bioluminescence assay; CRISPR; CRISPR-Cas systems; CRISPR/Cas9; DNA-directed RNA polymerase; Egg production; Eggs; Evolution; Fecundity; Female; Gene regulation; Gene sequencing; genes; Hatching; Industrial development; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; insect reproduction; Insects; loss-of-function mutation; metabolism; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Molecular modelling; oriental fruit fly; ovarian development; Ovaries; Ovary - growth & development; Ovary - metabolism; Pest control; pest management; Pests; Phenotypes; Polymerase chain reaction; Population growth; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; reproduction; Reproductive behavior; Reproductive strategy; RNA; Tephritidae - enzymology; Tephritidae - genetics; Tephritidae - growth & development; transcription regulation; Transcriptomics; transcription regulation; miRNA; CRISPR/Cas9; oriental fruit fly; reproduction
• ISSN: 1526-498X; 1526-4998; 1526-4998
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.8513

BACKGROUND Reproduction is the basis of insect population growth and evolution, and encompasses ovarian development, reproductive behavior, and fecundity. Bactrocera dorsalis is a globally significant agricultural pest that is subject to quarantine, with mated females that can lay over 3000 eggs. The post‐transcriptional regulation of ovarian development remains unclear. Here, miR‐31b is shown to be involved in regulating Bactrocera dorsalis ovarian development. RESULTS CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate miR‐31b loss‐of‐function mutations in Bactrocera dorsalis. The removal of miR‐31b resulted in severely impaired ovarian development in adults, with phenotypes that included dramatically reduced egg production and hatching rates. The relationship between miR‐31b and its target gene arylsulfatase B (ARSB) was subsequently identified using the methods of bioinformatics, transcriptomic sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), RNA pull‐down and dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Finally, miR‐31b was confirmed to bind the target gene arylsulfatase B to affect metabolism and thereby further hindered ovarian development of Bactrocera dorsalis. CONCLUSION Overall, these results provide new insights into molecular mechanisms at the post‐transcriptional level in regulating ovarian development and insect reproduction, consequently providing potential targets to control arthropod pests through the reproductive strategy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated miR‐31b knockout resulted in severely impaired ovarian development in adults of Bactrocera dorsalis, with phenotypes including dramatically reduced egg production and hatching rates. The current study reveals a miR‐31b/ARSB regulatory axis in female reproduction in Bactrocera dorsalis.