What is it about?
This study focuses on a gene called RNAi efficiency-related nuclease (REase) that is specifically found in butterflies and moths. REase is linked to the low efficiency of RNA interference (RNAi), a technology that selectively silences genes. RNAi works well in many insects, but it is often less effective in butterflies and moths. We found that REase varies greatly among species in this group, suggesting that it may contribute to their reduced RNAi efficiency.
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Why is it important?
RNAi is widely used in biological research and is also being developed as an environmentally friendly pest control strategy. However, its low efficiency in many moth and butterfly species has limited its practical application. By better understanding genes like REase that may influence RNAi performance, we can begin to explain why RNAi works poorly in this group. This knowledge is important for improving RNAi-based technologies in bioscience and agriculture.
Perspectives
Our findings provide a foundation for future studies on how REases influence RNAi efficiency. Further research may clarify how divergence among REases affects RNAi efficiency and how their activities could be regulated to improve RNAi performance. From an evolutionary perspective, REase was specifically acquired in butterflies and moths and has undergone rapid diversification. Although its role under natural conditions remains unclear, the evolutionary pattern of REase raises the possibility that it may be associated with immune defense against rapidly evolving organisms such as viruses. Understanding these mechanisms could not only improve RNAi-based pest control strategies but also deepen our knowledge of insect–virus interactions.
Keisuke Nagamine
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Diversity of RNAi efficiency-related nuclease in lepidopteran insects, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, April 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2026.104501.
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