Identifying components of exosome biogenesis pathways in Diabrotica undecimpunctata

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles crucial for intercellular communication and transporting proteins, lipids, and RNA. The biogenesis and release of exosomes involve complex cellular processes, including multivesicular body (MVB) formation, MVB fusion with the cell membrane, and exosome release. Whereas these mechanisms are well-studied in mammals, they remain largely unexplored in insects. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the roles of specific genes in exosome biogenesis in an insect cell line derived from eggs of the southern corn rootworm(SCR) (Diabrotica undecimpunctata). MVB formation, MVB fusion with the cell membrane, and exosome release were disrupted with a pharmacological inhibitor (GW4869) or by suppressing transcripts of proteins associated with these steps in mammalian studies with RNA interference. The effects of these treatments were assessed for the number, size, and/or characterization of their RNA cargoes. Understanding the exosome biogenesis pathways in insects will significantly advance our understanding of basic insect physiology and biology and may contribute to developing sustainable pest management strategies.