Identification and expression analysis of microRNAs in worker caste termites of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus

Abstract A total of 114 microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified for Coptotermes formosanus workers, while a total of 97 miRNAs were identified for Reticulitermes speratus workers, of which 91 were common in C. formosanus and R. speratus . While the relationship between miRNA expression levels in C. formosanus and R. speratus workers had a strong positive correlation, considerable difference in miRNA expressions between C. formosanus and R. speratus was observed. Among the miRNAs up-regulated in C. formosanus workers, miR-11-3p showed the highest expression increase of 2.30 fold, while miR-13b-3p showed the highest expression increase of 5.16 fold among the up-regulated miRNAs in R. speratus workers. Workers of C. formosanus and R. speratus seem to use different miRNAs, miR-11-3p in C. formosanus or miR-13b-3p in R. speratus , to regulate homeodomain transcription factor genes, araucan , caupolican , and nubbin , basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor genes, spineless and E(spl)m3-HLH , and zinc finger transcription factor gene, castor .