Insect Small RNA Sequencing

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a class of important non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through multiple pathways. Small RNA (sRNA) sequencing can detect the expression levels and expression differences of known and unknown miRNAs. When combined with transcriptomic sequencing data from the same sample for joint analysis, it can simultaneously analyze the expression of miRNAs and their target genes, providing a powerful tool for studying RNA function and regulatory mechanisms.

Lifeasible has extensive experience in research and services within the field of insects. Leveraging our advanced technical platforms and a team of expert professionals, we offer cutting-edge, specialized small RNA sequencing services tailored for insect samples. These services focus on high-throughput sequencing and analysis of small RNAs, and are widely applied in research areas such as gene expression regulation, developmental mechanisms, and immune responses.

What Can We Offer?

miRNA identification

In insect genomes, the transcription start sites of miRNAs are typically located in intergenic regions, introns, and the reverse complementary sequences of coding sequences. Their precursors have a typical hairpin structure, and Dicer/DCL enzymes generate the mature forms. For known miRNAs, we align the sequencing reads with mature miRNA sequences in the insect reference genome and specific databases to achieve precise identification. For unknown miRNAs, we use particular software for prediction, combined with insect-specific biological characteristics, to identify potential new miRNAs.

Gene expression level analysis

Using small RNA sequencing data, we can detect miRNA expression levels with high sensitivity. We quantify using TPM (Transcripts Per Million) and analyze density plots to visually display the overall expression patterns and dispersion of miRNAs in individual insect samples, as well as compare miRNA expression differences between insect samples under different experimental conditions or at different developmental stages.

Clustering analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs

Clustering analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs helps reveal dynamic changes in insect gene regulation under different experimental conditions. Hierarchical clustering methods group miRNAs with similar expression trends, enabling the inference of potential functions for unknown miRNAs or the identification of new roles for known miRNAs in specific physiological or metabolic processes in insects.

Annotation of target genes for differentially expressed miRNAs

miRNAs bind to target gene transcripts through complementary pairing with their seed regions, thereby inhibiting or degrading corresponding mRNAs and regulating insect gene expression and phenotypic traits. We perform GO (Gene Ontology) functional annotation and KEGG (metabolic pathway) enrichment analysis on the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs, and further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in insect development, metabolic regulation, immune responses, and environmental adaptation processes.

Application Areas of Insect Small RNA Sequencing

• Identification and functional studies of small RNA molecules. Identify known and novel small RNA molecules and analyze their expression patterns in different developmental stages or tissues of insects.
• Studies on insect development and metamorphosis mechanisms. Explore the regulatory roles of small RNA expression in embryonic development, larval metamorphosis, and adult formation by analyzing small RNA expression at different developmental stages.
• Immune and pathogen interaction mechanisms. Small RNA sequencing can help identify regulatory factors associated with immune responses and reveal insect disease resistance mechanisms.
• Environmental adaptation and stress resistance research. Analyzing changes in small RNA expression in insects when responding to environmental stress, such as revealing how insects adapt to environmental pressures by regulating gene expression through small RNAs.

Our Service Process

Fig.2 Our experimental process. (Lifeasible)

Why Choose Us?

• Fast turnaround time and high quality. Our advanced sequencing platform can generate millions of sequences in a single run, combined with advanced analytical methods to rapidly identify and predict various types of small RNAs at the whole-genome level.
• Professional design and strict quality control. The sequencing technology platform we provide can analyze sRNA in samples, identifying known sRNA, predicting new sRNA, and predicting the target genes of sRNA, providing a powerful tool for studying the function and regulatory mechanisms of small RNA.
• Extensive experience. We have successfully performed small RNA sequencing analysis on locusts and other insect samples, with extensive experience in insect services.

Lifeasible specializes in providing high-quality, accurate insect small RNA sequencing services to advance research in the field of entomology. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.