Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189127

Title: SID-1 IS IMPLICATED IN SYSTEMIC GENE SILENCING IN THE HONEY BEE

Author
item Aronstein, Katherine
item PANKIW, TANYA - DEPT. OF ENTOMOL., TAMU
item Saldivar, Eduardo

Submitted to: Journal of Apicultural Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2005
Publication Date: 12/15/2006
Citation: Aronstein, K.A., Pankiw, T., Saldivar, E. 2006. SID-1 is implicated in systemic gene silencing in the honey bee. Journal of Apicultural Research. 45(1):20-24.

Interpretive Summary: RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful functional genomics tool that can be used to effectively silence gene expression. The implications for analysis of loss-of-function phenotypes through systemic or localized silencing are enormously significant in the application of this technology. Here we demonstrate that RNAi in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is systemic and our data suggest that honey bee SID-1 homologue, a putative transmembrane protein encoded by AmSid-1, is necessary for the uptake of systemically administered dsRNA and subsequent gene silencing. To test the role of AmSid-1 in the systemic effect of RNAi, we induced systemic gene silencing of the honey bee Toll-related receptor 18W by a feeding-soaking delivery method of dsRNA and measured expression levels of AmSid-1 and Am18w using real time PCR. The presence of SID-1 in honey bees and its function as a transmembrane channel that facilitates uptake of dsRNA are discussed. In this study we demonstrated that gene silencing in the honey bee system can be successfully accomplished using a simple dsRNA delivery method. As the entire honey bee genome sequence becomes available, the RNA interference technology will be an essential tool in analyzing honey bee gene functions.

Technical Abstract: RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful functional genomics tool that can be used to effectively silence gene expression. The implications for analysis of loss-of-function phenotypes through systemic or localized silencing are enormously significant in the application of this technology. The Sid-1 gene was implicated in the cellular import of RNAi signal that enables passive uptake of dsRNA. Here we demonstrate that RNAi in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is systemic and our data suggest that honey bee SID-1 homologue, a putative transmembrane protein encoded by AmSid-1, is necessary for the uptake of systemically administered dsRNA and subsequent gene silencing. The honey bee SID-1 homologue shares strong similarities with human (NP-060169; 44.3%), mouse (NM-198034; 43.9%), and Caenorhabditis elegans (Q9GZC8; 19%). AmSid-1 was expressed in the entire set of honey bee tissues examined with the highest abundance in adult head followed by egg tissue. To test the role of AmSid-1 in the systemic effect of RNAi, we induced systemic gene silencing of the honey bee Toll-related receptor 18W by a feeding-soaking delivery method of dsRNA and measured expression levels of AmSid-1 and Am18w using real time PCR. A 3.4-fold increase in expression of AmSid-1 was observed at 26 h. In contrast, Am18w gene expression was decreased about 60-fold at 30 h. High mortality and morphological abnormalities were also seen due to gene silencing. The presence of SID-1 in honey bees and its function as a transmembrane channel that facilitates uptake of dsRNA are discussed.