Oligonucleotide insecticides (contact unmodified antisense DNA biotechnology) and RNA biocontrols (double-stranded RNA technology): newly born fraternal twins in plant protection

Abstract

AbstractThe rapid development of molecular genetics, methods of synthesis of nucleic acids, and bioinformatics have created fundamentally new opportunities in plant protection. DNA and RNA have become active ingredients of insecticides, going beyond their usual role as carriers of hereditary information. Now nucleic acids are increasingly acting as active tools for insect pest control using the mechanisms of DNA containment (oligonucleotide insecticides, contact unmodified antisense DNA (CUAD) biotechnology) and RNA interference (RNA biocontrols, double-stranded RNA biotechnology). Partial understanding of how antisense DNA oligonucleotides might work began in the late 1970s of XX century and for a long time (until the beginning of the XXI century) these biomolecules had not been implemented in plant protection in the form of any biotechnology based on unmodified or modified DNA fragments. RNA interference was discovered in the late 90s of XX century and also went through quite a long path of development in plant protection before the first encouraging results of its application as insecticides appeared. Both, CUAD biotechnology and double-stranded RNA technology aim to inactivate the expression of genes of insect pests using antisense DNA and double-stranded RNA that help trigger degradation of the target RNA. As two new classes of the next-generation insecticides, these products are supposed to have long operational life, low carbon footprint, high selectivity in action and rapid biodegradation in ecosystems. To date, antisense CUAD biotechnology shows the best results on sap-sucking insects while double-stranded RNA technology shows the best insecticidal potential on beetles from Tenebrionidae and Chrysomelidae families. With a high probability, oligonucleotide insecticides and RNA biocontrols, will be effective against certain groups of insects and can complement each other in complex formulations for control of wide range of pests.