microRNA‐8514‐5p regulates adipokinetic hormone/corazonin‐related peptide receptor to affect development and reproduction of Plutella xylostella

Abstract BACKGROUND Dicer1 plays a crucial role in regulating the development and reproduction of insects. Knockout of Dicer1 causes pupal deformity, low eclosion and low fecundity in Plutella xylostella , but the mechanism behind this phenomenon is not clear. This study aims to identify differentially‐expressed genes and miRNAs in the Dicer1 ‐knockout strain (Δ PxDcr‐1 ) and assess their impact on the reproduction and development of P. xylostella . RESULTS The knockout of Dicer1 affected the expression of genes including the adipokinetic hormone/corazonin‐related peptide receptor ( PxACPR ). The expression of PxACPR was upregulated, and the expression of miR‐8514‐5p was downregulated in Δ PxDcr‐1 of P. xylostella . The dual luciferase reporter assay and pull‐down assay showed that miR‐8514‐5p bound to PxACPR in vitro and in vivo . The expression profiles demonstrated a negative correlation between PxACPR mRNA and miR‐8514‐5p in different developmental stages of the wild‐type strain. Both the miR‐8514‐5p agomir and double‐stranded RNA of ACPR (ds PxACPR ) injected into the pre‐pupae inhibited the mRNA level of PxACPR , causing high mortality and deformity of pupae, and low fecundity and hatching rate, which were consistent with the phenotype of Δ PxDcr‐1 . The injection of miR‐8514‐5p antagomir caused a similar phenotype to the injection of miR‐8514‐5p agomir. Additionally, the injection of miR‐8514‐5p antagomir significantly rescued the phenotype caused by ds PxACPR . CONCLUSION These results indicate that miR‐8514‐5p affects the development and reproduction of P. xylostella by regulating PxACPR , and the homeostasis of PxACPR expression is essential for the development and reproduction of P. xylostella. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.