Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Royal Entomological Society Journal Awards.
Insect Molecular Biology is a Royal Entomological Society journal publishing high-quality original research on insect and arthropod molecular biology. Focusing on insect genomics/genes and proteomics/proteins. Delving into topics like gene structure and regulation, protein localization and function, molecular population genetics, and insect interactions with microorganisms.
We encourage papers with large datasets from experiments or genome analyses, as long as they contribute to hypothesis testing and advance understanding in the field.
Insect Molecular Biology Winner
Qianyu He 何倩毓: Juvenile hormone‐induced microRNA miR‐iab‐8 regulates lipid homeostasis and metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster (33.6)
In this study, the authors reveal that the microRNA miR-iab-8, induced by juvenile hormone, plays a pivotal role in regulating lipid metabolism and metamorphosis in fruit flies.
They discovered that when miR-iab-8 is overexpressed, it delays development and disrupts lipid storage, which is crucial for successful insect transformation from larva to adult.
“This paper investigates the function of a JH-regulated microRNA in lipid metabolism homeostasis and provides mechanistic insights into how JH and microRNA interface to regulate larval growth and metamorphosis. It was chosen for its in-depth mechanistic insights into a broadly important topic.”
– Judges’ comments
Qianyu He is a faculty member at Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University. Her research focuses on unravelling the regulatory mechanisms of juvenile hormone in controlling insect metamorphosis, with particular emphasis on its molecular pathways and epigenetic modulation.
Building upon these fundamental discoveries, she dedicates efforts to developing novel insect growth regulators targeting this hormone signalling axis, aiming to create environmentally-friendly alternatives for pest control.
Her work has identified key miRNA that mediate juvenile hormone (JH) anti-metamorphosis effect during larval-pupal transition, providing new targets for precision insecticide design. Currently, she is leveraging molecular docking techniques to screen natural products derived from traditional Chinese herbal medicine that specifically target the juvenile hormone receptor and its associated signalling pathways. This innovative approach aims to identify bioactive compounds capable of disrupting juvenile hormone-mediated insect development, with the ultimate goal of developing novel insect growth regulators for sustainable pest management.
This discovery highlights the intricate relationship between miRNAs, hormones, and lipid metabolism in insect development, offering new insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing insect metamorphosis.
