Functional characterization of the SlSMARCE1 gene in Spodoptera litura and its RNA interference effects

SMARCE1, an essential component that forms the core of chromatin remodeling complexes, plays a significant role in various biological processes including gene expression regulation and cell division. To elucidate the functional role of SMARCE1 in the developmental process of Spodoptera litura, we cloned and characterized the SMARCE1 gene in this study. The protein it encodes consists of 570 amino acid protein residues.

Multiple sequence alignment and the phylogenetic analysis revealed that SlSMARCE1 protein exhibited a high degree of conservation and significant homology with SMARCE1 proteins in other insects. During S. litura larval development, SlSMARCE1 exhibited stage-specific expression with peak levels observed in third-instar larvae. Tissue-specific profiling in fifth-instar larvae revealed predominant SlSMARCE1 expression in the midgut. To verify the function of SlSMARCE1, this study investigated the characteristics of the gene in S. litura and its biological effects under RNA interference.

The results showed that silencing of SlSMARCE1 by RNA interference significantly inhibited the growth and development, decreased larval weight and size of S. litura larvae during larval development. Furthermore, after spraying dsSlSMARCE1 to larvae at the end of the 1^st instar, the survival rate of larvae was 55% within at 72 h, and the expression of Ago and Dicer, key genes of the RNAi pathway elevated significantly.

These results not only demonstrate that SlSMARCE1 has an important role in the growth and development of S. litura, but also provide new target genes for the prevention and control of the S. litura using RNAi technology, and provide a promising strategy for reducing the reliance on chemical insecticides in agricultural pest control.