Targeting the Hh and Hippo pathways by miR-7 suppresses the development of insect wings.

Abstract

Wings are important organs of insects involved in flight, mating, and other behaviors, and are therefore prime targets for pest control. The formation of insect wings is a complex process that is regulated by multiple pathways. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway regulates the distribution of wing veins, while the Hippo pathway modulates wing size. Any interventions that can manipulate these pathways have the potential to disrupt wing development and could be used for pest control. In this study, we find that overexpression of miR-7 in Drosophila results in smaller wings with disordered veins. Mechanistically, miR-7 directly targets both ci and yki via different mature miRNAs (miR-7-5p and miR-7-3p), thereby disrupting the Hh and Hippo pathways. Importantly, this regulatory mechanism is also observed in another insect species, Helicoverpa armigera. Finally, by utilizing a nanocarrier delivery system, we show that introducing miR-7 via star polycation (SPc) leads to wing defects in H. armigera. In conclusion, these findings uncover that miR-7 inhibits wing formation by targeting both the Hippo and Hh pathways, indicating its potential for use in pest control strategies.