Expression of miRNAs in response to freezing and anoxia stresses in the freeze tolerant fly Eurosta solidaginis

Insect cold hardiness is associated with substantial metabolic rate suppression, often including developmental diapause as well as metabolic suppression imposed by freezing and freeze-associated oxygen limitation. MicroRNAs, small non-coding transcripts that bind to mRNA, are known modulators of hypometabolism in freeze tolerant insects. To further contribute to the growing signature of stress-responsive miRNAs, this study amplified and quantified changes in the expression levels of four microRNA species, miR-8, miR-9, miR-92b and miR-277, in response to freezing or anoxia exposures of freeze tolerant gall fly larvae, Eurosta solidaginis. MiR-92b levels were significantly elevated by 1.57-fold in frozen E. solidaginis at −15 °C as compared with 5 °C controls, whereas miR-92b levels were significantly reduced in anoxic E. solidaginis to levels that were 0.77-fold as compared with larvae held under normoxic conditions. The other miRNAs investigated showed no significant changes in stressed larvae. These data demonstrate differential miR-92b expression in frozen/anoxic versus control insect larvae and position this miRNA as a stress responsive marker in this model insect.