RNAi modifications as novel targets for stored pest management

Cellular RNAs including mRNA and rRNA have over 100 chemical modifications. These modifications are essential for RNA biogenesis, regulation, and function. How RNA modifications regulate insect development is widely unknown. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, a worldwide stored product pest with high sensitivity to RNAi, has emerged as an important model organism to study insect functional genomics. In this study, we investigated the function of a major mRNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), and rRNA modifications in T. castaneum development. By knocking down m6A writers, we revealed that m6A deficiency caused the failure of ecdysis during T. castaneum eclosion. Meanwhile, it is also found that m6A is critical for T. castaneum oogenesis and embryogenesis. rRNA modifications were shown to play a more important role in insect survival. Knockdown of the key enzymes depositing rRNA modifications caused high mortality. These data can help with our understanding about the function of RNA modifications in insect development and provided potential target genes for RNAi-based pest management strategy.