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Title: Insect and plant-derived miRNAs in greenbug (schizaphis graminum) and yellow sugarcane aphid (sipha flava) revealed by deep sequencing

Author
item WANG, HAICHUAN - University Of Nebraska
item ZHANG, CAI - University Of Nebraska
item DOU, Y - University Of Nebraska
item YU, B - University Of Nebraska
item LIU, Y - University Of Nebraska
item HENG-MOSS, T - University Of Nebraska
item LU, GOUQING - University Of Nebraska
item WACHHOLTZ, MICHAEL - University Of Nebraska
item BRADSHAW, JEFFREY - University Of Nebraska
item TWIGG, P - University Of Nebraska
item Scully, Erin
item Palmer, Nathan - Nate
item Sarath, Gautam

Submitted to: Gene
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2016
Publication Date: 11/9/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5585553
Citation: Wang, H., Zhang, C., Dou, Y., Yu, B., Liu, Y., Heng-Moss, T., Lu, G., Wachholtz, M., Bradshaw, J.D., Twigg, P., Scully, E.D., Palmer, N.A., Sarath, G. 2016. Insect and plant-derived miRNAs in greenbug (schizaphis graminum) and yellow sugarcane aphid (sipha flava) revealed by deep sequencing. Gene. 599:68-77. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2016.11.014.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2016.11.014

Interpretive Summary: All higher organisms possess a number of different regulatory molecules that guide biochemical processes in cells. MicroRNAs, or miRNAs for short, are one type of such molecules. Within cells, miRNAs can bind to specific messenger RNA molecules (mRNA) and target them for degradation. Since mRNA molecules code for proteins, the workhorses within cells, cellular mRNA levels frequently impact cellular protein levels. Lowering mRNA levels by miRNAs will lower synthesis of key proteins, altering cellular metabolism. When insect pests invade plants, both the plant and the insect can produce miRNAs to influence metabolism of each other. In this study, a first of its kind, miRNAs present in two aphids that are major pests of grasses were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing procedures. Bioinformatic tools were used to analyze the datasets for miRNA present in greenbugs maintained on sorghum plants and yellow sugarcane aphids maintained on barely plants. In both instances, a number of putative miRNAs were discovered and were assigned as originating from aphids or host plants. These initial datasets will serve as a foundation for ongoing studies to evaluate the complex interactions of pests and host plants, and lead to new environmentally friendly means of control.

Technical Abstract: Schizaphis graminum (green bug; GB) and Sipha flava yellow sugarcane aphid; YSA) are two cereal aphid species with broad host ranges capable of establishing on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and several switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivars. Switchgrass and sorghum are staple renewable bioenergy crops that are vulnerable to damage by aphids, therefore, identifying novel targets to control aphids has the potential to drastically improve yields and reduce losses in these bioenergy crops. Despite thewealth of genomic and transcriptomic information available from a closely related model aphid species, the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), similar genomic information,including the identification of small RNAs, is still limited for GB and YSA. Deep sequencing of miRNAs expressed in GB and YSA was conducted and 72 and 56 miRNA candidates (including 14 and eight novel) were identified, respectively. Of the identified miRNAs, 45were commonly expressed in both aphid species. Further, plant derivedmiRNAswere also detected in both aphid samples, including 13 (eight known and five novel)sorghum miRNAs and three (novel) barley miRNAs. In addition, potential aphid gene targets for the host plantderivedmiRNAs were predicted. The establishment ofmiRNA repertoires in these two aphid species and the detection of plant-derived miRNA in aphids will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the role of miRNAs in regulating gene expression networks in these two aphids and the potential roles of plant miRNAs in mediating plant-insect interactions.