MicroRNA-8 targets the Wingless signaling pathway in the female mosquito fat body to regulate reproductive processes.

ABSTRACT: Female mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction, and this blood meal provides the underlying mechanism for the spread of many important vector-borne diseases in humans. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms linked to mosquito blood meal processes and reproductive events is of particular importance for devising innovative vector control strategies. We found that the conserved microRNA miR-8 is an essential regulator of mosquito reproductive events. Two strategies to inhibit miR-8 function in vivo were used for functional characterization: systemic antagomir depletion and spatiotemporal inhibition using the miRNA sponge transgenic method in combination with the yeast transcriptional activator gal4 protein/upstream activating sequence system. Depletion of miR-8 in the fem

SUBMITTER: Lucas KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4321257 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature