Data from: Ame-miR-2161 affects the survival and development of honeybee larvae through the juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase gene

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as endogenous small non-coding RNAs, play a role in
regulating the growth and development processes of insects. However, there
are still few reports on the coordinated regulation of honeybee
development processes by miRNAs and hormones. In this study, the
regulatory network of target genes of Apis mellifera miRNA-2161
(ame-miR-2161) was constructed. The association between ame-miR-2161 and
the survival and development of workers larvae was analyzed. The results
showed that ame-miR-2161 potentially targets 22 mRNAs, focusing on target
gene juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (Jhamt), which is a key
rate-limiting enzyme in the final step of the juvenile hormone synthesis
pathway. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of ame-miR-2161 and Jhamt
had the same trend during the larval stage. Dual-luciferase assays
confirmed the targeting relationship between ame-miR-2161 and Jhamt.
Overexpression of ame-miR-2161 increased the mRNA level of Jhamt, which
led to significantly increased juvenile hormone (JH) titer in 4- to
6-day-old larvae, and the expression of the JH signaling downstream
response gene Kr-h1 also gradually increased. Conversely, inhibition of
ame-miR-2161 decreased the mRNA level of jhamt, significantly reduced JH
titer in larvae, and markedly declined the expression of Kr-h1. This
indicates that ame-miR-2161 positively regulates the expression of Jhamt.
Further findings showed that overexpression of ame-miR-2161 improved
larval survival rate, while inhibition of ame-miR-2161 reduced larval
survival rate. Changes in ame-miR-2161 did not affect the pupation rate of
larvae but influenced changes in larval body weight. The results suggest
that ame-miR-2161 affects JH levels by positively regulating the
expression of Jhamt, participating in the regulation of the survival and
development of honeybee larvae. These findings provide important
information for interpreting the regulation of miRNA on hormone levels and
metamorphic development in honeybees.