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Hong TT, Hu F, Ge WJ, Zhang R, Du J, Thakur K, Tang SM, Wei ZJ. Selenium Treatment Alleviates the Inhibition Caused by Nep-L Gene Knockdown in Silkworm (Bombyx mori). Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04248-8. [PMID: 38819778 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have emphasized the beneficial effects of 50 μM selenium (Se) on the growth and development of the silkworm, Bombyx mori; however, less is known about its underlying mechanism. To unravel the effect of 50 μM Se on the silkworms with neutral endopeptidase 24.11-like gene (NEP-L) knockdown, we injected small interfering RNA (siRNA) into the body cavity of silkworms. Phenotypic characteristics, mRNA expression of the Nep-L gene, and enriched Se content were evaluated in silkworms from each treatment group. After injecting Nep-L siRNA, the body weight, cocoon quality (cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell ratio), and egg production of silkworms were significantly reduced, without any significant effect on egg laying number. However, Se treatment could significantly alleviate the inhibition of body weight, and cocoon quality, without significant effects on egg laying number and production. In addition, the gene knockdown increased Se content in the B. mori. On the molecular level, the targeted Nep-L gene was inhibited significantly by siRNA interference, essentially with the strongest effect at 24 h after RNAi, followed by steady recovery. Among the three fragments, the siRNA of Nep-L-3 was the most effective in interfering with target gene expression. Nep-L gene showed the highest expression in Malpighian tubules (MTs). Both at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, our results show that Nep-L knockdown can exert a significant inhibitory effect on silkworms, and 50 μM Se can reverse the negative effect, which provides a practical prospect for strengthening the silkworm food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Hong
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China
| | - Fei Hu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China.
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wen-Jie Ge
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China
| | - Juan Du
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
| | - Kiran Thakur
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
| | - Shun-Ming Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, 212018, PR China
| | - Zhao-Jun Wei
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, PR China.
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China.
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Roberts KT, Steward RA, Süess P, Lehmann P, Wheat CW. A time course analysis through diapause reveals dynamic temporal patterns of microRNAs associated with endocrine regulation in the butterfly Pieris napi. Mol Ecol 2024:e17348. [PMID: 38597329 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17348] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Organisms inhabiting highly seasonal environments must cope with a wide range of environmentally induced challenges. Many seasonal challenges require extensive physiological modification to survive. In winter, to survive extreme cold and limited resources, insects commonly enter diapause, which is an endogenously derived dormant state associated with minimized cellular processes and low energetic expenditure. Due to the high degree of complexity involved in diapause, substantial cellular regulation is required, of which our understanding primarily derives from the transcriptome via messenger RNA expression dynamics. Here we aim to advance our understanding of diapause by investigating microRNA (miRNA) expression in diapausing and direct developing pupae of the butterfly Pieris napi. We identified coordinated patterns of miRNA expression throughout diapause in both head and abdomen tissues of pupae, and via miRNA target identification, found several expression patterns to be enriched for relevant diapause-related physiological processes. We also identified two candidate miRNAs, miR-14-5p and miR-2a-3p, that are likely involved in diapause progression through their activity in the ecdysone pathway, a critical regulator of diapause termination. miR-14-5p targets phantom, a gene in the ecdysone synthesis pathway, and is upregulated early in diapause. miR-2a-3p has been found to be expressed in response to ecdysone, and is upregulated during diapause termination. Together, the expression patterns of these two miRNAs match our current understanding of the timing of hormonal regulation of diapause in P. napi and provide interesting candidates to further explore the mechanistic role of microRNAs in diapause regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Roberts
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rachel A Steward
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Philip Süess
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philipp Lehmann
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Shimizu I. Photoperiodism of Diapause Induction in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:141-158. [PMID: 38587909 DOI: 10.2108/zs230036] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The silkworm Bombyx mori exhibits a photoperiodic response (PR) for embryonic diapause induction. This article provides a comprehensive review of literature on the silkworm PR, starting from early works on population to recent studies uncovering the molecular mechanism. Makita Kogure (1933) conducted extensive research on the PR, presenting a pioneering paper on insect photoperiodism. In the 1970s and 80s, artificial diets were developed, and the influence of nutrition on PR was well documented. The photoperiodic photoreceptor has been investigated from organ to molecular level in the silkworm. Culture experiments demonstrated that the photoperiodic induction can be programmed in an isolated brain (Br)-subesophageal ganglion (SG) complex with corpora cardiaca (CC)-corpora allata (CA). The requirement of dietary vitamin A for PR suggests the involvement of opsin pigment in the photoperiodic reception, and a cDNA encoding an opsin (Boceropsin) was cloned from the brain. The effector system concerning the production and secretion of diapause hormone (DH) has also been extensively investigated in the silkworm. DH is produced in a pair of posterior cells of SG, transported to CC by nervi corporis cardiaci, and ultimately released into the hemolymph. Possible involvement of GABAergic and corazonin (Crz) signal pathways was suggested in the control of DH secretion. Knockout (KO) experiments of GABA transporter (GAT) and circadian clock genes demonstrated that GAT plays a crucial role in PR through circadian control. A model outlining the PR mechanism, from maternal photoperiodic light reception to DH secretion, has been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isamu Shimizu
- Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan,
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Zhang R, Cao YY, Du J, Thakur K, Tang SM, Hu F, Wei ZJ. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Gene Expression Changes in the Silkworm ( Bombyx mori) in Response to Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121110. [PMID: 34940198 PMCID: PMC8706860 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The fat body is one of the most important tissues in the body of insects due to its number of functions. Nowadays the new physiological function of H2S has gained attention as a novel signaling molecule. H2S performs crucial regulatory functions involving growth, the cardiovascular system, oxidative stress, and inflammation in many organisms. In this study, RNA-seq technology was used to investigate the fat body of the silkworm at the transcriptional level after H2S exposure during the 5th larvae stage. A total of 1200 (DEGs) was identified after 7.5 µM H2S treatment, of which 977 DEGs were up-regulated and 223 DEGs were down-regulated. DEGs were mainly involved in the transport pathway, cellular community, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune-associated signal transduction. Present research provides new insights on the gene expression changes in the fat body of silkworms after H2S exposure. Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized for its beneficial influence on physiological alterations. The development (body weight) and economic characteristics (cocoon weight, cocoon shell ratio, and cocoon shell weight) of silkworms were increased after continuous 7.5 µM H2S treatment. In the present study, gene expression changes in the fat body of silkworms at the 5th instar larvae in response to the H2S were investigated through comparative transcriptome analysis. Moreover, the expression pattern of significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the 5th instar larvae was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) after H2S exposure. A total of 1200 (DEGs) was identified, of which 977 DEGs were up-regulated and 223 DEGs were down-regulated. Most of the DEGs were involved in the transport pathway, cellular community, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune-associated signal transduction. The up regulated genes under H2S exposure were involved in endocytosis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), and the synthesis of fibroin, while genes related to inflammation were down-regulated, indicating that H2S could promote energy metabolism, the transport pathway, silk synthesis, and inhibit inflammation in the silkworm. In addition, the expression levels of these genes were increased or decreased in a time-dependent manner during the 5th instar larvae. These results provided insight into the effects of H2S on silkworms at the transcriptional level and a substantial foundation for understanding H2S function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; (R.Z.); (Y.-Y.C.); (K.T.)
| | - Yu-Yao Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; (R.Z.); (Y.-Y.C.); (K.T.)
| | - Juan Du
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
| | - Kiran Thakur
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; (R.Z.); (Y.-Y.C.); (K.T.)
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
| | - Shun-Ming Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003, China;
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212018, China
| | - Fei Hu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; (R.Z.); (Y.-Y.C.); (K.T.)
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
- Correspondence: (F.H.); (Z.-J.W.)
| | - Zhao-Jun Wei
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; (R.Z.); (Y.-Y.C.); (K.T.)
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
- Correspondence: (F.H.); (Z.-J.W.)
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