MicroRNA-mediated regulation of a trehalose transporter gene involved in heat resistance in the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: Rhopalosiphum padi is an important cereal pest whose impact may intensify under climate warming. To cope with increasing heat stress, insects employ multiple physiological adaptations, including regulation of energy metabolism and accumulation of cytoprotective metabolites. Trehalose plays important roles in insect energy metabolism and stress adaptation, and its transmembrane transport is mediated by trehalose transporters (TRETs). However, the role of Tret genes in the heat resistance of R. padi remains unclear. In this study, heat stress significantly increased endogenous trehalose levels and upregulated the expression of the trehalose transporter gene RpTret1-2. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of RpTret1-2 significantly reduced trehalose levels and increased aphid mortality under heat stress, supporting a role for RpTret1-2 in the heat-stress response of R. padi. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and miRNA mimic and inhibitor experiments supported negative post-transcriptional regulation of RpTret1-2 by two microRNAs, novel-76 and miR-9a. Increased abundance of these miRNAs was associated with reduced RpTret1-2 expression and lower aphid survival under heat stress, whereas miRNA inhibition increased RpTret1-2 expression and improved survival. RpTret1-2 knockdown was accompanied by reduced expression of the heat shock protein genes Rphsp70-1 and Rphsp70-2 across the heat-stress conditions examined. These findings suggest a regulatory relationship in which miRNA-mediated modulation of RpTret1-2 is associated with trehalose homeostasis, hsp gene expression, and aphid survival under heat stress. This study expands our understanding of the potential involvement of TRET and miRNA-mediated regulation in the heat-stress response of aphids and provides a basis for further investigation of these pathways.
Source: DRYAD
Authors: Chen, Maohua, Tang, Hongcheng
Institution: Northwest A&F University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223675821