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Cao J, Wu K, Wei X, Li J, Liu C, Cheng T. A Simple and Low-Cost CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout System Widely Applicable to Insects. INSECTS 2024; 15:339. [PMID: 38786895 PMCID: PMC11122616 DOI: 10.3390/insects15050339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system is a standard technique in functional genomics, with widespread applications. However, the establishment of a CRISPR/Cas9 system is challenging. Previous studies have presented numerous methodologies for establishing a CRISPR/Cas9 system, yet detailed descriptions are limited. Additionally, the difficulties in obtaining the necessary plasmids have hindered the replication of CRISPR/Cas9 techniques in other laboratories. In this study, we share a detailed and simple CRISPR/Cas9 knockout system with optimized steps. The results of gene knockout experiments in vitro and in vivo show that this system successfully knocked out the target gene. By sharing detailed information on plasmid sequences, reagent codes, and methods, this study can assist researchers in establishing gene knockout systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tingcai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (J.C.); (K.W.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (C.L.)
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Li S, Lao J, Sun Y, Hua X, Lin P, Wang F, Shen G, Zhao P, Xia Q. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Editing of BmEcKL1 Gene Sequence Affected Silk Gland Development of Silkworms ( Bombyx mori). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1907. [PMID: 38339188 PMCID: PMC10856159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has served humankind through silk protein production. However, traditional sericulture and the silk industry have encountered considerable bottlenecks and must rely on major technological breakthroughs to keep up with the current rapid developments. The adoption of gene editing technology has nevertheless brought new hope to traditional sericulture and the silk industry. The long period and low efficiency of traditional genetic breeding methods to obtain high silk-yielding silkworm strains have hindered the development of the sericulture industry; the use of gene editing technology to specifically control the expression of genes related to silk gland development or silk protein synthesis is beneficial for obtaining silkworm strains with excellent traits. In this study, BmEcKL1 was specifically knocked out in the middle (MSGs) and posterior (PSGs) silk glands using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and ΔBmEcKL1-MSG and ΔBmEcKL1-PSG strains with improved MSGs and PSGs and increased silk production were obtained. This work identifies and proves that BmEcKL1 directly or indirectly participates in silk gland development and silk protein synthesis, providing new perspectives for investigating silk gland development and silk protein synthesis mechanisms in silkworms, which is of great significance for selecting and breeding high silk-yielding silkworm varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimin Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
| | - Junjie Lao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
| | - Yue Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
| | - Xiaoting Hua
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ping Lin
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Guanwang Shen
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (S.L.); (J.L.); (X.H.); (P.L.); (F.W.); (G.S.); (P.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
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Lao J, Sun H, Wang A, Wu M, Liu D, Zhang Y, Chen C, Xia Q, Ma S. Effect of eIF6 on the development of silk glands and silk protein synthesis of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 256:128316. [PMID: 38000606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128316] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The silkworm is a lepidopteran domesticated from the wild silkworm, mostly valued for its efficient synthesis of silk protein. This species' ability to spin silk has supported the 5500-year-old silk industry and the globally known "Silk Road", making the transformation of mulberry leaves into silk of great concern. Therefore, research on the silk-related genes of silkworms and their regulatory mechanisms has attracted increasing attention. Previous studies have revealed that domestic silk gland cells are endoreduplication cells, and their high-copy genome and special chromatin conformation provide conditions for the high expression of silk proteins. In this study, we systematically investigate the expression pattern of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) and identified the eIF6 as a eukaryotic translation initiation factor involved in the synthesis of silk proteins. We generated an eIF6 gene deletion mutant strain of silkworm using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and investigated the function of eIF6 in silk gland development and silk protein synthesis. The results showed that deletion of eIF6 inhibited the individual development of silkworm larvae, inhibited the development of silk glands, and significantly reduced the cocoon layer ratio. Therefore, we elucidated the function of eIF6 in the development of silk glands and the synthesis of silk proteins, which is important for further elucidation of the developmental process of silk glands and the mechanism underlying the ultra-high expression of silk proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Lao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Aoming Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Mingke Wu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Chaojie Chen
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Sanyuan Ma
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
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Li J, Kong Y, Sun L, Tang Y, Sun X, Qin S, Li M. Overexpression of Ultrabithorax Changes the Development of Silk Gland and the Expression of Fibroin Genes in Bombyx mori. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076670. [PMID: 37047645 PMCID: PMC10095271 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is a member of the Hox gene group involved in cell fate decisions, cell proliferation and organ identity. Its function has been extensively researched in Drosophila melanogaster but little is known about it in Lepidoptera. To uncover the function of Ubx in the development of lepidopterans, we constructed the Ubx overexpression (UbxOE) strain based on the Nistari strain of Bombyx mori. The UbxOE strain showed a small body size, transparent intersegmental membrane and abnormal posterior silk gland (PSG). In the current study, we focused on the effect of Ubx overexpression on the posterior silk gland. As the major protein product of PSG, the mRNA expression of fibroin heavy chain (Fib-H) and fibroin light chain (Fib-L) was upregulated three times in UbxOE, but the protein expression of Fib-H and Fib-L was not significantly different. We speculated that the overexpression of Ubx downregulated the expression of Myc and further caused abnormal synthesis of the spliceosome and ribosome. Abnormalities of the spliceosome and ribosome affected the synthesis of protein in the PSG and changed its morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashuang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Yunhui Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Lingling Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Yaling Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Xia Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
- The Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Sheng Qin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
- The Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Muwang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China
- The Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhenjiang 212018, China
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Cao J, Zheng HS, Zhang R, Xu YP, Pan H, Li S, Liu C, Cheng TC. Dimmed gene knockout shortens larval growth and reduces silk yield in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:26-35. [PMID: 36082617 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The bHLH domain transcription factor, Bombyx mori-derived dimmed (Bmdimm), is directly regulated by the JH-BmMet/BmSRC-BmKr-h1 pathway and plays a key role in regulating the expression of FibH, which codes the main component of silk protein. However, the other roles of Bmdimm in silk protein synthesis remain unclear. Here, we established a Bmdimm knockout (KO) line containing a 7-bp deletion via CRISPR/Cas9 system, which led to the absence of the bHLH domain. The expression level of silk protein genes and silk yield decreased significantly in the Bmdimm KO line. Moreover, knocking out Bmdimm led to shortened larval stages and significant weight loss in larvae and adults. Bmdimm was found to be highly expressed in the silk gland, but it was also expressed in the fat body. The expression level of Bmkr-h1 in the fat body was significantly downregulated in the Bmdimm KO line. Exogenous JHA treatment upregulated Bmkr-h1 and rescued the phenotype of larval growth in the Bmdimm KO line. In conclusion, knocking out Bmdimm led to a shortened larval stage via the inhibition of Bmkr-h1 expression, then reduced silk yield. These findings help to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of fibroin synthesis and larval development in silkworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong-Sheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yong-Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting-Cai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Zhu K, Chen Y, Chen L, Xiang H. Comparative Silk Transcriptomics Illuminates Distinctive Impact of Artificial Selection in Silkworm Modern Breeding. INSECTS 2022; 13:1163. [PMID: 36555072 PMCID: PMC9784016 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Early domestication and the following improvement are two important processes in the cocoon silk evolution of silkworms. In contrast to early domestication, understanding of the improvement process is still fuzzy. By systematically comparing the larval silk gland transcriptomes of the wild, early domestic, and improved silkworms, we highlighted a novel landscape of transcriptome in the silk glands of improved ones. We first clarified that silk cocoon protein genes were up-regulated in modern breeding but not in early domestication. Furthermore, we found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between improved and early domestic silkworms (2711), as well as between improved and wild silkworms (2264), were obviously more than those between the early domestic and wild silkworms (158), with 1671 DEGs specific in the improved silkworm (IS-DEGs). Hierarchical clustering of all the DEGs consistently indicated that improved silkworms were significantly diverged from the early domestic and wild silkworms, suggesting that modern breeding might cause prompt and drastic dynamic changes of gene expression in the silk gland. We further paid attention to these 1671 IS-DEGs and were surprised to find that down-regulated genes were enriched in basic organonitrogen compound biosynthesis, RNA biosynthesis, and ribosome biogenesis processes, which are generally universally expressed, whereas those up-regulated genes were enriched in organonitrogen compound catabolic processes and functions involving in the dynamic regulation of protein post-translation of modification. We finally highlighted one candidate improvement gene among these up-regulated IS-DEGs, i.e., GDAP2, which may play roles in silk behavior and the overall robustness of the improved silkworm. The findings strongly suggest that modern breeding may facilitate effective control of the basic consumption of nitrogen and a stronger switch of nitrogen resources from other tissues to the silk glands, for an efficient supply for silk production, and implies the importance of brain behavior and robustness in silk yield improvement of modern breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kesen Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University , Guangzhou 510631, China
- Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanfei Chen
- Henry Fok School of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512000, China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Hui Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University , Guangzhou 510631, China
- Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Ma Y, Zeng W, Ba Y, Luo Q, Ou Y, Liu R, Ma J, Tang Y, Hu J, Wang H, Tang X, Mu Y, Li Q, Chen Y, Ran Y, Xiang Z, Xu H. A single-cell transcriptomic atlas characterizes the silk-producing organ in the silkworm. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3316. [PMID: 35680954 PMCID: PMC9184679 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The silk gland of the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori, is a remarkable organ that produces vast amounts of silk with exceptional properties. Little is known about which silk gland cells execute silk protein synthesis and its precise spatiotemporal control. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to build a comprehensive cell atlas of the silkworm silk gland, consisting of 14,972 high-quality cells representing 10 distinct cell types, in three early developmental stages. We annotate all 10 cell types and determine their distributions in each region of the silk gland. Additionally, we decode the developmental trajectory and gene expression status of silk gland cells. Finally, we discover marker genes involved in the regulation of silk gland development and silk protein synthesis. Altogether, this work reveals the heterogeneity of silkworm silk gland cells and their gene expression dynamics, affording a deeper understanding of silk-producing organs at the single-cell level. The molecular underpinning of silk-producing organs is not well characterized. Here the authors use single-cell RNA sequencing to build an atlas of the silkworm silk gland and reveal the heterogeneity of silk gland cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wenhui Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yongbing Ba
- Shanghai OE Biotech. Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201212, China
| | - Qin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yao Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Rongpeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jingwen Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yiyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jie Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Haomiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xuan Tang
- Shanghai OE Biotech. Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201212, China
| | - Yuanyuan Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qingjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yuqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yiting Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhonghuai Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Hanfu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Hou S, Tao C, Yang H, Cheng T, Liu C. Sage controls silk gland development by regulating Dfd in Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 132:103568. [PMID: 33741432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Silk gland is an organ that produces and secretes silk proteins. The development of the silk gland is essential for high silk production yield and silk quality. Although Sage reportedly plays a pivotal role in embryonic silk gland development, the mechanism underlying its action remains unclear. Our study aimed to determine the genes downstream of Sage through which it regulates the development of the silk gland. After chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing, Dfd was identified as a downstream target gene of Sage and it was confirmed that Sage could inhibit Dfd expression by competing with SGF1. When Dfd was knocked down through RNA interference (RNAi), the number of cells in the middle silk gland decreased, and the posterior silk gland was straightened. Simultaneously, the expression of Ser1 and silk fibroin genes was no longer strictly regional. These changes eventually led to an alteration in the composition of the Dfd RNAi cocoon. In conclusion, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the development of silk glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihan Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Cuicui Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Hongguo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Tingcai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, China.
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Cong J, Tao C, Zhang X, Zhang H, Cheng T, Liu C. Transgenic Ectopic Overexpression of Broad Complex ( BrC-Z2) in the Silk Gland Inhibits the Expression of Silk Fibroin Genes of Bombyx mori. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11060374. [PMID: 32560131 PMCID: PMC7349191 DOI: 10.3390/insects11060374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bombyx mori silk protein genes are strictly turned on and off in different developmental stages under the hormone periodically change. The broad complex (BrC) is a transcription factor mediating 20-hydroxyecdysone action, which plays important roles during metamorphosis. Here, we observed that two isoforms of BmBrC (BmBrC-Z2 and BmBrC-Z4) exhibited contrasting expression patterns with fibroin genes (FibH, FibL and P25) in the posterior silk gland (PSG), suggesting that BmBrC may negatively regulate fibroin genes. Transgenic lines were constructed to ectopically overexpress BmBrC-Z2 in the PSG. The silk protein genes in the transgenic line were decreased to almost half of that in the wild type. The silk yield was decreased significantly. In addition, the expression levels of regulatory factors (BmKr-h1 and BmDimm) response to juvenile hormone (JH) signal were inhibited significantly. Then exogenous JH in the BmBrC-Z2 overexpressed lines can inhibit the expression of BmBrC-Z2 and activate the expression of silk protein genes and restore the silk yield to the level of the wild type. These results indicated that BmBrC may inhibit fibroin genes by repressing the JH signal pathway, which would assist in deciphering the comprehensive regulation mechanism of silk protein genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chun Liu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-23-68251753; Fax: 86-23-68251128
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