MicroRNA Function and Regulation in Insect Systems

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by guiding effector complexes to complementary sequences in target transcripts. In insects these regulatory RNAs shape a wide range of physiological and developmental processes, from metamorphosis and tissue differentiation to immune defence and behavioural plasticity. Biogenesis of microRNAs involves the sequential processing of primary transcripts by Drosha and Dicer enzymes, yielding a mature microRNA strand that associates with Argonaute proteins to form the RNA-induced silencing complex. Target recognition typically relies on base-pairing with the 3′ untranslated region of messenger RNAs, leading to translational repression or mRNA decay. Dynamic control of microRNA expression allows rapid modulation of gene networks in response to environmental cues such as pathogen invasion or population density. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that pathogens can manipulate host microRNA profiles to facilitate infection, while hosts deploy specific microRNAs to fine-tune innate immune pathways. Together, these findings underscore the central role of microRNAs as versatile regulators in insect biology with implications for pest control, pollinator health and the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A comprehensive in vivo library of conditional microRNA sponges in Drosophila has enabled systematic loss-of-function analyses of 141 conserved microRNAs. Ubiquitous inhibition revealed a small subset of microRNA families essential for viability and organismal morphology, while tissue-specific silencing uncovered numerous roles in adult indirect flight muscle maintenance. This resource demonstrates that even low-abundance microRNAs can exert critical physiological functions and provides a scalable platform for dissecting microRNA contributions to complex developmental and homeostatic processes in insect models.

MicroRNA Function and Regulation in Insect Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna function and regulation in insect systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

microRNA: A small non-coding RNA that directs post-transcriptional gene silencing by binding to complementary mRNA sequences.

Post-transcriptional regulation: Control of gene expression after mRNA synthesis, often by affecting translation or stability of transcripts.

RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC): A multiprotein assembly that incorporates a microRNA guide and mediates target repression.

3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR): The mRNA segment downstream of the coding sequence that frequently contains microRNA binding sites.

MicroRNA sponge: A transcript engineered with multiple microRNA binding sites that competitively inhibits endogenous microRNA function.

References

1. A transgenic resource for conditional competitive inhibition of conserved Drosophila microRNAs. Nature Communications (2015).
2. MicroRNAs reshape the immunity of insects in response to bacterial infection. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
3. Analysis of Amblyomma americanum microRNAs in response to Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection and their potential role in vectorial capacity. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2024).
4. ame-miR-34 Modulates the Larval Body Weight and Immune Response of Apis mellifera Workers to Ascosphara apis Invasion. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).