Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Double-Stranded RNA-Degrading Nuclease in the Tawny Crazy Ant (Nylanderia fulva).

ABSTRACT: RNA interference is a powerful tool that post-transcriptionally silences target genes. However, silencing efficacy varies greatly among different insect species. Recently, we attempted to knock down some housekeeping genes in the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), a relatively new invasive species in the southern United States, but only achieved relatively low silencing efficiency when dsRNA was orally administered. Here, we detected divalent cation-dependent, dsRNA-degrading activity in the midgut fluid of worker ants in ex vivo assays. To determine whether dsRNA degradation could contribute to low effectiveness of oral RNAi in N. fulva, we cloned its sole dsRNase gene (NfdsRNase). The deduced amino acid sequence contained a signal peptide and an endonu

SUBMITTER: Lei J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8836465 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature