MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是广泛存在于各种生物体的内源性非编码小RNA,其通过调控靶基因降解或转录抑制参与不同的生物过程。目前至少已经从25种昆虫体内鉴定出2848条miRNAs,它们具有调控昆虫生长发育、参与宿主与病原体的交互作用、参与宿主免疫反应等功能。本文就此予以综述,从观察miRNAs多元化的功能为疾病防治和应用昆虫学研究提供新思路。
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non coding RNAs of approximately 22 nt that are produced in various species, miRNAs serve to regulate genes in various biological processes by pairing with the mRNAs of protein-coding genes to induce their cleavage or post-transcriptional repression. At least 2,848 miRNAs have been identified in 25 species of insects, and they have various functions related to development, immunity, and host-microorganism interactions. This review focuses on the functions of miRNAs in insects in order to provide insight into the varied roles of these miRNAs in disease prevention and applied entomology.