RNAi-mediated crop protection against insects

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 393 - 400
• Main Authors: Price, Daniel R.G, Gatehouse, John A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2008; [London]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Crops; Crops, Agricultural - genetics; double-stranded RNA; Drosophila - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Genetic engineering; genetic resistance; Genetic technics; Genomes; Genomics; Insect Control - methods; insect pests; Insecta - genetics; Insects; Internal Medicine; literature reviews; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Nematoda; Nematodes; Pest Control, Biological - methods; pest resistance; Plant protection; Plants, Genetically Modified; Proteins; RNA Interference; RNA polymerase; RNA, Double-Stranded - metabolism; Transgenic animals and transgenic plants; Transgenic plants; Resistance; Gene silencing; RNA interference; Arthropoda; Insecta; Transgenic plant; Review; Cultivated plant; Invertebrata; Protection
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2008.04.004

Downregulation of the expression of specific genes through RNA interference (RNAi), has been widely used for genetic research in insects. The method has relied on the injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which is not possible for practical applications in crop protection. By contrast, specific suppression of gene expression in nematodes is possible through feeding with dsRNA. This approach was thought to be unfeasible in insects, but recent results have shown that dsRNA fed as a diet component can be effective in downregulating targeted genes. More significantly, expression of dsRNA directed against suitable insect target genes in transgenic plants has been shown to give protection against pests, opening the way for a new generation of insect-resistant crops.