A functional requirement for sex-determination M/m locus region lncRNA genes in Aedes aegypti female larvae.

ABSTRACT: Although many putative long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes have been identified in insect genomes, few of these genes have been functionally validated. A screen for female-specific larvicides that facilitate Aedes aegypti male sex separation uncovered multiple interfering RNAs with target sites in lncRNA genes located in the M/m locus region, including loci within or tightly linked to the sex determination locus. Larval consumption of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) strain engineered to express interfering RNA corresponding to lncRNA transcripts resulted in significant female death, yet had no impact on male survival or fitness. Incorporation of the yeast larvicides into mass culturing protocols facilitated scaled production and separation of fit adult males, indicating that yeast larvic

SUBMITTER: Mysore K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8137943 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature