Project description:Aestivation is a dormant state that allows animals to withstand hot and dry summer conditions and requires complex gene regulation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of genes necessary for aestivation remain unclear. MicroRNA (miRNA) are known to fine-tune gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and are important for various biological processes. In this study, we investigated the role of the miRNA pathway in the regulation of the obligatory aestivation stage in the cabbage stem flea beetle, a major pest of oilseed rape. Small RNA sequencing showed that ∼25% of miRNAs were differentially abundant during aestivation. The inhibition of the miRNA pathway deregulated 116 proteins in aestivation, which were mainly associated with metabolism and catabolism, including peroxisome activity. Most proteins regulated by miRNA exhibited lower transcript levels during aestivation. RNA degradome sequencing confirmed the miRNA-mediated exonucleolytic decay of several transcripts. Furthermore, inhibiting the miRNA pathway resulted in altered body composition, compromised metabolic suppression, and lower resilience to high temperature during aestivation. Also, beetles could not suppress their feeding activity during the transition into aestivation. Our findings highlight the critical role of miRNA in regulating aestivation in the cabbage stem flea beetle, with important implications for climate change.
2025-07-26 | PXD061878 | Pride
Project description:RNA degradome sequencing in the cabbage stem flea beetle
| PRJNA1196165 | ENA
Project description:IsoSeq of adult Crucifer Flea Beetle
| PRJNA1126656 | ENA
Project description:IsoSeq of adult Striped Flea Beetle
Project description:Purpose: we want to see gene expression changes during in vitro expansion of VM-derived NSCs (VM-NSCs) with cell passges in the absence or presence of Lin28a overexpression. changes upon Lin28 overexpression in P1 and P3 stages of Neural stem cells. RNA-seq, sRNA-seq, and Polysome-seq with/without Lin28 overexpression in P1 and P3 stages of Neural stem cells.
Project description:Plants possess various defense strategies to counter attacks from microorganisms or herbivores. For example, plants reduce the cell-wall-macerating activity of pathogen- or insect-derived polygalacturonases (PGs) by expressing PG-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs). PGs and PGIPs belong to multi-gene families believed to have been shaped by an evolutionary arms race. The mustard leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae expresses both active PGs and catalytically inactive PG pseudoenzymes. Previous studies demonstrated that (i) PGIPs target beetle PGs and (ii) the role of PG pseudoenzymes remains elusive, despite having been linked to the pectin degradation pathway. For further insight into the interaction between plant PGIPs and beetle PG family members, we combined affinity purification with proteomics and gene expression analyses, and identified novel inhibitors of beetle PGs from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). A beetle PG pseudoenzyme was not targeted by PGIPs, but instead interacted with PGIP-like proteins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PGIP-like proteins clustered apart from classical PGIPs but together with proteins, which have been involved in developmental processes. Our results indicate that PGIP-like proteins represent not only interesting novel PG inhibitor candidates in addition to classical PGIPs, but also fascinating new players in the arms race between herbivorous beetles and plant defenses.
Project description:We report the transcriptional response to Colorado potato beetle herbivory in leaves of the highly beetle resistant Solanum chacoense diploid line USDA8380-1 (80-) and a susceptible F2 individual (EE501F2_093) derived from a cross between 80-1 and a beetle susceptible line S. chacoense M6. Sampling tissue in a time course during adult Colorado potato beetle feeding provides novel insight to the transcriptomic defense response to this important pest.