Systematic identification and functional characterisation of cis-regulatory elements in the Anopheles gambiae germline [version 1]

Chesters, Emily; Ravenscroft, Lara; Thompson, Trevor; Sylla, Lakamy; Tembely, Boubacar; Kerr, Jak; Hasenauer, Jake; Page, Nicole; Winny, Teena; Nolan, Tony; Tonge, Daniel; Galizi, Roberto

Abstract

Tissue- or cell-specific cis-regulatory elements (CREs) are crucial for the development of effective genetic control strategies in pest and vector insects. Identification and characterisation of CREs has proven difficult so far due to lack of computational tools and practical methods for experimental validation particularly in non-model insects. Here we describe a novel systematic approach for the identification and in silico characterisation of cis-regulatory elements in the human malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, which we successfully applied to the putative promoter sequences of germline-specific genes. We also provide an example of in vivo functional validation of a novel testis regulatory sequence found in germline promoters currently used to engineer genetic control strategies. The approach described here will be valuable to improve tissue-specific genetic engineering and build effective genetic tools in malaria mosquitoes as well as other major insect vectors and pests, therefore widening the bottleneck currently faced in the development of successful genetic control strategies.

Citation

Chesters, E., Ravenscroft, L., Thompson, T., Sylla, L., Tembely, B., Kerr, J., Hasenauer, J., Page, N., Winny, T., Nolan, T., Tonge, D., & Galizi, R. Systematic identification and functional characterisation of cis-regulatory elements in the Anopheles gambiae germline [version 1]

• Working Paper Type: Preprint
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.1766.1
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1364896
• Publisher URL: https://verixiv.org/articles/2-223/v1