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Ma Y, Li Q, Tang Y, Zhang Z, Liu R, Luo Q, Wang Y, Hu J, Chen Y, Li Z, Zhao C, Ran Y, Mu Y, Li Y, Xu X, Gong Y, He Z, Ba Y, Guo K, Dong K, Li X, Tan W, Zhu Y, Xiang Z, Xu H. The architecture of silk-secreting organs during the final larval stage of silkworms revealed by single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114460. [PMID: 38996068 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural silks are renewable proteins with impressive mechanical properties and biocompatibility that are useful in various fields. However, the cellular and spatial organization of silk-secreting organs remains unclear. Here, we combined single-nucleus and spatially resolved transcriptomics to systematically map the cellular and spatial composition of the silk glands (SGs) of mulberry silkworms late in larval development. This approach allowed us to profile SG cell types and cell state dynamics and identify regulatory networks and cell-cell communication related to efficient silk protein synthesis; key markers were validated via transgenic approaches. Notably, we demonstrated the indispensable role of the ecdysone receptor (ultraspiracle) in regulating endoreplication in SG cells. Our atlas presents the results of spatiotemporal analysis of silk-secreting organ architecture late in larval development; this atlas provides a valuable reference for elucidating the mechanism of efficient silk protein synthesis and developing sustainable products made from natural silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qingjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yiyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Beijing SeekGene BioSciences Co., Ltd., Beijing 102206, China
| | - Rongpeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jie Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhiwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yiting Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuanyuan Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yinghao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuyan Gong
- Beijing SeekGene BioSciences Co., Ltd., Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zihan He
- Beijing SeekGene BioSciences Co., Ltd., Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yongbing Ba
- Shanghai OE Biotech. Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201212, China
| | - Kaiqi Guo
- Shanghai OE Biotech. Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201212, China
| | - Keshu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wei Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yumeng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhonghuai Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hanfu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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Zhang X, Dong Z, Guo K, Jiang W, Wu X, Duan J, Jing X, Xia Q, Zhao P. Identification and functional study of fhx-L1, a major silk component in Bombyx mori. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 232:123371. [PMID: 36709809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The silkworm cocoon was composed of fibroins, sericins, protease inhibitors, and proteins of unknown function. In this study, we focused on fhx-L1 (fibrohexamerin-like1), which was the homolog of fibroin fhx (fibrohexamerin). We identified 154 fhx family genes in 44 Lepidoptera insects, and seven fhx-Ls were found in Bombyx mori. Fhx-L1 was the most abundant of these proteins in silk and was specifically expressed in the silk gland. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that fhx-L1 was secreted into the whole sericin layers, similar to sericin1 (ser1). Western blotting revealed that the fhx-L1 protein contains N-linked oligosaccharide chains. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing was used to generate a homozygous mutant of fhx-L1 (fhx-L1KO). The cocoon of fhx-L1KO was larger and fluffier than that of the wild-type (WT), which was attributed to the lower adhesion between silk fibers. We also found that the content of β-sheet in the mutant silk was lower than in the WT silk, which resulted in further deterioration of the mechanical properties of the fhx-L1KO silk. Our study revealed the properties and function of fhx-L1 as a major structural component in silk. Then, our study provided a potential insight for in-depth study of silk protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Zhang
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Kaiyu Guo
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Wenchao Jiang
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Xianxian Wu
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Jingmin Duan
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyuan Jing
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China.
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3
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Guo K, Dong Z, Zhang X, Chen Y, Li Y, Jiang W, Qin L, Zhang Y, Guo Z, Xia Q, Zhao P. Analysis of histomorphometric and proteome dynamics inside the silk gland lumen of Bombyx mori revealed the dynamic change of silk protein during the molt stage. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 236:123926. [PMID: 36889618 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Silkworms spin different silks at different growth stages for specific purposes. The silk spun before the end of each instar is stronger than that at the beginning of each instar and cocoon silk. However, the compositional changes in silk proteins during this process are unknown. Consequently, we performed histomorphological and proteomic analyses of the silk gland to characterize changes from the instar end to the next instar beginning. The silk glands were collected on day 3 of third- and fourth-instar larvae (III-3 and IV-3) and the beginning of fourth-instar larvae (IV-0). Proteomic analysis identified 2961 proteins from all silk glands. Silk proteins P25 and Ser5 were significantly more abundant in III-3 and IV-3 than in IV-0, and many cuticular proteins and protease inhibitors increased significantly in IV-0 compared with III-3 and IV-3. This shift may cause mechanical property differences between the instar end and beginning silk. Using section staining, qPCR, and western blotting, we found for the first time that silk proteins were degraded first and then resynthesized during the molting stage. Furthermore, we revealed that fibroinase mediated the changes of silk proteins during molting. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of silk proteins dynamic regulation during molting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Guo
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Yuqing Chen
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Li
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Wenchao Jiang
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Lixia Qin
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Zhouguanrui Guo
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory for Germplasm Creation in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 400715 Chongqing, China; Engineering Laboratory of Sericultural and Functional Genome and Biotechnology, Development and Reform Commission, 400715 Chongqing, China.
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Xie X, Wang X, Liu Q, Li Y, Dong Z, Wang L, Xia Q, Zhao P. The tissue-specific expression of silkworm cuticle protein gene ASSCP2 is mediated by the Sox-2 transcription factor. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 237:124182. [PMID: 36972822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The silk gland of silkworm is a unique organ in which silk proteins are synthesized, secreted, and transformed into fibers. The anterior silk gland (ASG) is located at the end of the silk gland, and is thought to be involved in silk fibrosis. In our previous study, a cuticle protein, ASSCP2, was identified. This protein is specifically and highly expressed in the ASG. In this work, the transcriptional regulation mechanism of ASSCP2 gene was studied by a transgenic route. The ASSCP2 promoter was analyzed, truncated sequentially, and used to initiate the expression of EGFP gene in silkworm larvae. After egg injection, seven transgenic silkworm lines were isolated. Molecular analysis revealed that the green fluorescent signal could not be detected when the promoter was truncated to -257 bp, suggesting that the -357 to -257 sequence is the key region responsible for the transcriptional regulation of the ASSCP2 gene. Furthermore, an ASG specific transcription factor Sox-2 was identified. EMSA assays showed that Sox-2 binds with the -357 to -257 sequence, and thus regulates the tissue-specific expression of ASSCP2. This study on the transcriptional regulation of ASSCP2 gene provides theoretical and experimental basis for further studies of the regulatory mechanism of tissue-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Xie
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qingsong Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yi Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lingyan Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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5
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POUM2 homeostasis regulates intimal remodeling and cells fate in the anterior silk gland of the silkworm. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 225:715-729. [PMID: 36403768 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Tissue/organ remodeling and cells fate determination play key roles in the life cycle of animals. However, they are still poorly understood in insects, especially in the silkworm. The anterior silk gland (ASG) of the silkworm is essential for the formation and performance of silk fibers, but the regulatory mechanism of ASG remodeling and cells fate determination is less known. Here we found that silencing of POUM2 caused shorter ASG length, intimal structural defects, silkworm spinning failure, and the resultant naked pupae death, but cells number was not affected. Cells staining showed that DNA endoreduplication was not affected in the ASG. Transmission electron microscopy and chitin staining showed cuticle proteins and chitin were greatly reduced in the ASG during the molting period. Transcriptional analysis showed the expression profiles of cuticle proteins and chitin synthase were similar to that of POUM2 during the molting period, and POUM2 down-regulation reduced the expression of cuticle proteins, chitin synthase, autophagy and apoptosis-related genes. While the phenotype resulting from POUM2 over-expression was similar to that of POUM2 down-regulation. Cells staining revealed marked cells apoptosis with cells number reduction and inhibition of DNA endoreduplication in the ASG. Transcriptional analysis showed the expression of autophagy and apoptosis-related genes, and some cuticle proteins and chitin synthase were significantly up-regulated. The results suggest that POUM2 homeostasis regulates ASG intimal remodeling and cells fate, thus affecting ASG development, silkworm spinning and metamorphosis. Our studies not only offer potential molecular targets for genetic improvement of silk performance and molecular breeding of the silkworm, but also provide new insights into POU factor-mediated tissue remodeling and cells fate determination in insects.
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Guo K, Zhang X, Zhao D, Qin L, Jiang W, Hu W, Liu X, Xia Q, Dong Z, Zhao P. Identification and characterization of sericin5 reveals non-cocoon silk sericin components with high β-sheet content and adhesive strength. Acta Biomater 2022; 150:96-110. [PMID: 35902035 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Sericins are glue proteins on the surface of silk fibers. Four sericins have been characterized in silkworm, namely sericin1 (Ser1), sericin2 (Ser2), sericin3 (Ser3), and sericin4 (Ser4). In this study, we report a novel sericin, sericin5 (Ser5), which exists only in non-cocoon silk. We describe the sequence, exon-intron structure, and translation products of Ser5 in Bombyx mori. The Ser5 gene is approximately 22-kb long and comprises 16 exons. Ser5 protein has a size of 260 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, western blot, and LC-MS/MS. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that Ser5 co-localizes with Ser1 in the sericin layer. The expression pattern of Ser5 was detected at the transcriptional and translational levels. We systematically analyzed and compared the amino acid composition, repeat regions, and hydrophilicity of silkworm sericins. Morphological observations showed that non-cocoon silk had more sericin than cocoon silk. Circular dichroism spectra revealed that non-cocoon silk sericin contained more β-sheet structures than cocoon silk sericin. In addition, we found that the hydrophilicity and adhesive strength of native sericin increases gradually from the inner layer to the outer layer. This research enhances our understanding of various sericins from cocoon silk and non-cocoon silk with regard to their expression patterns, hydrophilicity, secondary structure and adhesive performances. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Sericin is a natural biomaterial with diverse biological properties, which has long been used as tissue engineering and biomedical applications. However, the composition and distribution of sericins in different kinds of silk are still uncertain, and the properties difference between sericins have not yet been reported. Our study makes a significant contribution to the literature as it identifies the sequence, composition, hydrophilicity and adhesive property of sericins. Moreover, it provides key insights into the structure-function and function-distribution relationships associated with sericins. We believe that this study will arouse the interest to the readership of your journal as it identifies the new complete sequence of sericin and revealed the composition and properties of sericin, thus highlighting their future potentials applications in both the biomaterial and technical fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dongchao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Lixia Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wenchao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.; Sericulture Genome and Biotechnology Engineering Laboratory, Chongqing 400716, China.
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7
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Zhou Z, Eichner C, Nilsen F, Jonassen I, Dondrup M. A novel approach to co-expression network analysis identifies modules and genes relevant for moulting and development in the Atlantic salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). BMC Genomics 2021; 22:832. [PMID: 34789144 PMCID: PMC8600823 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is an obligate ectoparasitic copepod living on Atlantic salmon and other salmonids in the marine environment. Salmon lice cause a number of environmental problems and lead to large economical losses in aquaculture every year. In order to develop novel parasite control strategies, a better understanding of the mechanisms of moulting and development of the salmon louse at the transcriptional level is required. METHODS Three weighted gene co-expression networks were constructed based on the pairwise correlations of salmon louse gene expression profiles at different life stages. Network-based approaches and gene annotation information were applied to identify genes that might be important for the moulting and development of the salmon louse. RNA interference was performed for validation. Regulatory impact factors were calculated for all the transcription factor genes by examining the changes in co-expression patterns between transcription factor genes and deferentially expressed genes in middle stages and moulting stages. RESULTS Eight gene modules were predicted as important, and 10 genes from six of the eight modules have been found to show observable phenotypes in RNA interference experiments. We knocked down five hub genes from three modules and observed phenotypic consequences in all experiments. In the infection trial, no copepodids with a RAB1A-like gene knocked down were found on fish, while control samples developed to chalimus-1 larvae. Also, a FOXO-like transcription factor obtained highest scores in the regulatory impact factor calculation. CONCLUSIONS We propose a gene co-expression network-based approach to identify genes playing an important role in the moulting and development of salmon louse. The RNA interference experiments confirm the effectiveness of our approach and demonstrated the indispensable role of a RAB1A-like gene in the development of the salmon louse. We propose that our approach could be generalized to identify important genes associated with a phenotype of interest in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoran Zhou
- Department of Informatics & Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, Bergen, 5008 Norway
| | - Christiane Eichner
- Department of Biological Sciences & Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, Bergen, 5008 Norway
| | - Frank Nilsen
- Department of Biological Sciences & Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, Bergen, 5008 Norway
| | - Inge Jonassen
- Department of Informatics & Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, Bergen, 5008 Norway
| | - Michael Dondrup
- Department of Informatics & Sea Lice Research Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, Bergen, 5008 Norway
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Wang X, Tan X, Liu Q, Li Y, Li X, Dong Z, Dong H, Xia Q, Zhao P. Fiber Formation and Mechanical Properties of Bombyx mori Silk Are Regulated by Vacuolar-Type ATPase. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5532-5540. [PMID: 34753284 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of silk fiber formation in silkworms, Bombyx mori, is of particular scientific interest because it is closely related to the mechanical properties of silk fibers. However, there are still substantial knowledge gaps in understanding the details of this mechanism. Studies have found a pH gradient in the silk gland of silkworms. A vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase) is thought to be involved in establishing this pH gradient. Although it is reported that the pH gradient plays a role in silk fibrillogenesis, the direct relationship between V-ATPase and silk mechanical properties is unclear. Thus, this study aims to clarify this relationship. We found that V-ATPase is highly and stably expressed in the anterior silk gland (ASG) and maintains the pH gradient and the fine structure of ASG. Inhibition of V-ATPase activity increased the β-sheet content and crystallinity of silk fibers. Tensile testing showed that the mechanical properties of silk fibers improved after inhibiting V-ATPase activity. All the data suggest that V-ATPase is a key factor in regulating silk fibrillogenesis and is related to the final mechanical properties of the silk fibers. V-ATPase is a potential target for silk mechanical property improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaoyin Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingsong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xinning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Haonan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
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Lei Y, Guo K, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Qin L, Wang X, Zhu H, Guo Y, Yang W, Li B, Xia Q, Zhao P, Dong Z. Adhesive property and mechanism of silkworm egg glue protein. Acta Biomater 2021; 134:499-512. [PMID: 34311106 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Egg glue proteins (EGPs) are produced by female insects, which can make the eggs firmly attached to the oviposition sites, not affected by wind and rain. Although EGPs are widespread in insects, they have been rarely characterized in molecular detail. Here, the full-length sequence and secondary structure of silkworm EGP is reported. A pentapeptide motif, G-G-N/K/D-Q/E/K-Q/P, was found to repeat 346 times, forming a hydrophilic and elastic β-spiral structure in the silkworm EGP. To reveal the adhesive property and mechanism, we extracted natural EGP from silkworm colleterial gland, and expressed recombinant EGP in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris. The glycosylated natural EGP and recombinant EGP from P. pastoris was found to have better adhesive strength than the non-glycosylated recombinant EGP from E. coli. In addition, two transglutaminases in the colleterial gland were found to contribute to the high adhesion of EGP by catalyzing the cross-linking. This study provides important insights into the structure-function relationships associated with this protein, thereby creating new opportunities for the use of insect EGP as a biomaterial. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Egg glue proteins are produced by female insects, which can make the eggs firmly attached to the oviposition sites, not affected by wind and rain. However, genes encoding insect egg glue proteins have not yet been reported, and the molecular mechanism underpinning their adhesion is still unknown. Our study makes a significant contribution to the literature as it identifies the sequence, structure, adhesive property, and mechanism of silkworm egg glue protein. Furthermore, it outlines key insights into the structure-function relationships associated with egg glue proteins. We believe that this paper will be of interest to the readership of your journal as it identifies the first complete sequence of insect egg glue proteins, thereby highlighting their potentials future applications in both the biomedical and technical fields.
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Gong W, Bilixzi A, Wang X, Lu Y, Wan L, Han L. The role of serum β-trophin and endostatin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Are they correlated? BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2021; 21:104. [PMID: 33706732 PMCID: PMC7953644 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01198-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background It’s necessary to investigate the serum β-trophin and endostatin (ES) level and its influencing factors in patients with newly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Newly diagnosed PCOS patients treated in our hospital were selected, and healthy women who took physical examination during the same period as healthy controls. We detected and compared the related serum indicators between two groups, Pearson correlation were conducted to identify the factors associated with β-trophin and ES, and the influencing factors of β-trophin and ES were analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 62 PCOS patients and 65 healthy controls were included. The BMI, WHI, LH, FSH, TT, FAI, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL, ES in PCOS patients were significantly higher than that of healthy controls, while the SHBG and HDL in PCOS patients were significantly lower than that of healthy controls (all p < 0.05). β-trophin was closely associated with BMI (r = 0.427), WHR (r = 0.504), FBG (r = 0.385), TG (r = 0.405) and LDL (r = 0.302, all p < 0.05), and ES was closely associated with BMI (r = 0.358), WHR (r = 0.421), FBG (r = 0.343), TC (r = 0.319), TG (r = 0.404, all p < 0.05). TG, BMI, WHR and FBG were the main factors affecting the serum β-trophin levels (all p < 0.05). FBG, TC and BMI were the main factors affecting the serum ES levels (all p < 0.05). The TG, β-trophin, ES level in PCOS patients with insulin resistance (IR) were significantly higher than that of those without IR (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Increased β-trophin is closely associated with increased ES in patients with PCOS, which may be the useful indicators for the management of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gong
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Aikmu Bilixzi
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xinmei Wang
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Li Wan
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 116 Huanghe Road, Urumqi, 214000, Xinjiang, China.
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