Engineered RNA nanostructures for scalable and efficient RNAi-based pesticides

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) pesticides face limitations in stability, scalability, and delivery.
• Efficient RNA interference (RNAi) requires robust delivery systems for agricultural and biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer self-assembled RNA nanostructures (SARNs) for enhanced RNAi pesticide performance.
• To evaluate SARNs' stability, scalability, and efficacy in plant and insect models.
• To establish a framework for transitioning SARNs from laboratory to field applications.

Main Methods:

• Engineered self-assembled RNA nanostructures (SARNs) loaded with functional small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).
• Incorporated motifs to enhance siRNA hydrophobicity and elasticity for improved release kinetics.
• Tested SARNs in plants and insect models (Tribolium castaneum and Nilaparvata lugens) with different feeding habits.
• Assessed RNAi efficiency, gene downregulation, and mortality rates compared to traditional dsRNA.

Main Results:

• SARNs demonstrated improved RNA stability and delivery in plants and insect pests.
• SARNs achieved superior RNAi efficiency, gene downregulation, and mortality in both chewing and piercing-sucking insect pests compared to dsRNA.
• SARNs can be produced scalably via transcription in Escherichia coli.

Conclusions:

• SARNs represent an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective platform for RNA-based gene silencing.
• This engineered RNA technology advances RNAi applications in agriculture and biomedicine.
• SARNs overcome key challenges associated with dsRNA pesticide development and deployment.