RNA interference (RNAi) technology of microRNAs targetingjuvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH) gene for increased silk productivity in Bombyx mori

RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence specific post transcriptional gene silencing process elicited by double stranded RNA that occurs among plants and animals, including insects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in insect development and metamorphosis by regulation of various biological activities. Identification of microRNAs and their target genes helps in better understanding of regulation of developmental events and is therefore, being widely exploited for beneficial use. In this study, an attempt has been made to predict and identify the miRNAs targeting Juvenile Hormone Epoxide Hydrolase (JHEH) of Bombyx mori. The JHEH is a hydrolytic enzyme that plays an important role in the irreversible degradation of Juvenile Hormone (JH) which is known to regulate metabolic pathways of developmental physiology and reproductive maturation in Lepidopterans. Reference genomic sequence of JHEH (NW004582036.1) was taken from NCBI for the identification of miRNAs. All the predicted miRNAs were clustered, characterized and the potent miRNAs targeting JHEH have been selected for gene silencing. Since rapid JH degradation signals onset of pupation in silkworm, we presume that gene silencing of JHEH by RNAi technology might extend the larval stage and leads to the formation of super cocoons, which in turn adds to the increased silk productivity. Further studies on in vitro and in vivo knockdown of JH degrading enzyme using potent miRNAs are in progress.