Associate Professor Koichi Hasegawa of Chubu University and his colleagues discovered a gene that affects molting by analyzing the genetic information of cockroaches in collaboration with Saga University.It was confirmed that when RNA synthesized from this gene was injected into a part of the body of a cockroach, the function of the gene throughout the body was inhibited and the cockroach died due to molting failure.
Cockroaches have a history of 3 million years and are home to approximately 5 species worldwide.Due to its high diversity, it is an attractive research subject in evolutionary biology.However, it is not easy to get rid of it because it has "stubbornness as a living thing".
This time, the research team conducted an experiment by "RNA interference" using Smokybrown cockroaches, which are abundant in Japan.This experimental method uses complementary RNA, which has the property of forming a double strand by connecting in parallel with RNA that transmits genetic information (messenger RNA), and investigates the function of RNA.When complementary RNA is injected into the body, it connects with messenger RNA and stops working.
The research team first synthesized double-stranded RNA of the target cockroach gene (vha55) in the laboratory and injected it into the abdominal cavity of middle-aged larvae.As a result, it was confirmed that the function of the gene was suppressed to 10-40% throughout the body.
Next, when we observed the cockroach that suppressed the action of vha55, it was found that it died due to molting failure.Although there are signs that molting has begun, vha55 plays an important role as new cuticles underneath the old cuticle (the hard membrane of the body surface) do not form normally and the body does not grow large enough. It turned out that.
Currently, it is said that it is developing a method that exerts the same systemic RNA interference effect by oral administration instead of injection.If the effect is obtained by feeding it as bait, it is expected to lead to the development of a safe and secure new drug that can exterminate only the targeted cockroach without harming other creatures.
Paper information:[Insect Science] Systemic RNAi of V-ATPase subunit B causes molting defect and developmental abnormalities in Periplaneta fuliginosa
