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Piwi/piRNAs control food intake by promoting neuropeptide F expression in locusts
Author(s) -
Wang Huimin,
Jiang Feng,
Liu Xiang,
Liu Qing,
Fu Yunyun,
Li Ran,
Hou Li,
Zhang Jie,
He Jing,
Kang Le
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.15252/embr.202050851
Subject(s) - piwi interacting rna , biology , gene knockdown , rasirna , locust , migratory locust , microbiology and biotechnology , rna interference , function (biology) , rna splicing , genetics , rna , gene , ecology
Animal feeding, which directly affects growth and metabolism, is an important physiological process. However, the contribution of PIWI proteins and PIWI‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to the regulatory mechanism of animal feeding is unknown. Here, we report a novel function of Piwi and piRNAs in regulating food intake in locusts. Our study shows that the locust can serve as a representative species for determining PIWI function in insects. Knockdown of Piwi1 expression suppresses anabolic processes and reduces food consumption and body weight. The reduction in food intake by knockdown of Piwi1 expression results from decreased expression of neuropeptide NPF1 in a piRNA‐dependent manner. Mechanistically, intronic piRNAs might enhance RNA splicing of NPF1 by preventing hairpin formation at the branch point sites. These results suggest a novel nuclear PIWI/piRNA‐mediated mechanism that controls food intake in the locust nervous system.