2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Functional analysis of microRNA in morphological changes of termites and use of breeding insects as cultivation feed
Project/Area Number |
20K06171
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Review Section |
Basic Section 40020:Wood science-related
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Research Institution | Kindai University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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Keywords | 昆虫食 / 生物資源 / シロアリ / miRNA / miRNA inhibitor / miRNA mimic |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Three types of miRNAs (miR-7-5p,miR-8-3p,miR-12-5p) predicted to be involved in the formation of compound eyes or wings, which are characteristics of alates, in the body coloring, which are characteristics of replacement reproductive, and in the chitin synthesis, were selected as targets. Inhibitors or mimics of the miRNAs were injected into worker caste termites of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. Injection of miRNA inhibitors increased the expression of mRNAs such as nostrin and ribosomal protein in R. speratus. In C. formosanus, mRNA expression levels of CYP15A1, JHBP, and ecdysone receptor increased.Injection of miRNA mimic reduced the mRNA levels of JHAMT and CYP15A1 in both C. formosanus and R. speratus 5-7 days after injection.
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Free Research Field |
木材保存学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
シロアリは良質なタンパク質と脂質を含むため,食料や飼料としての活用が期待される。シロアリ1匹の体重は数mgしかなく,また成熟したシロアリの巣の中の個体数は数万匹~百万匹に過ぎないため,巣全体のシロアリを採集したとしても数十g~数kgしか集めることができない。このためシロアリを食料・飼料など生物資源として利用する際には,効率的にシロアリの個体数を増やす必要が生じる。 本研究は,シロアリの分化を制御するmiRNAを見出し,シロアリの幼虫(職蟻)から成虫(幼形生殖虫)への分化誘導を目標としている。本研究では,分化のキーとなる幼若ホルモン生合成に関わる遺伝子を制御するmiRNA候補を見出すことができた。
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