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Wan L, Su S, Liu J, Zou B, Jiang Y, Jiao B, Tang S, Zhang Y, Deng C, Xiao W. The Spatio-Temporal Expression Profiles of Silkworm Pseudogenes Provide Valuable Insights into Their Biological Roles. Evol Bioinform Online 2024; 20:11769343241261814. [PMID: 38883803 PMCID: PMC11179516 DOI: 10.1177/11769343241261814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Pseudogenes are sequences that have lost the ability to transcribe RNA molecules or encode truncated but possibly functional proteins. While they were once considered to be meaningless remnants of evolution, recent researches have shown that pseudogenes play important roles in various biological processes. However, the studies of pseudogenes in the silkworm, an important model organism, are limited and have focused on single or only a few specific genes. Objective To fill these gaps, we present a systematic genome-wide studies of pseudogenes in the silkworm. Methods We identified the pseudogenes in the silkworm using the silkworm genome assemblies, transcriptome, protein sequences from silkworm and its related species. Then we used transcriptome datasets from 832 RNA-seq analyses to construct spatio-temporal expression profiles for these pseudogenes. Additionally, we identified tissue-specifically expressed and differentially expressed pseudogenes to further understand their characteristics. Finally, the functional roles of pseudogenes as lncRNAs were systematically analyzed. Results We identified a total of 4410 pseudogenes, which were grouped into 4 groups, including duplications (DUPs), unitary pseudogenes (Unitary), processed pseudogenes (retropseudogenes, RETs), and fragments (FRAGs). The most of pseudogenes in the domestic silkworm were generated before the divergence of wild and domestic silkworm, however, the domestication may also involve in the accumulation of pseudogenes. These pseudogenes were clearly divided into 2 cluster, a highly expressed and a lowly expressed, and the posterior silk gland was the tissue with the most tissue-specific pseudogenes (199), implying these pseudogenes may be involved in the development and function of silkgland. We identified 3299 lncRNAs in these pseudogenes, and the target genes of these lncRNAs in silkworm pseudogenes were enriched in the egg formation and olfactory function. Conclusions This study replenishes the genome annotations for silkworm, provide valuable insights into the biological roles of pseudogenes. It will also contribute to our understanding of the complex gene regulatory networks in the silkworm and will potentially have implications for other organisms as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linrong Wan
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siyuan Su
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinyun Liu
- Research and Development Center, LyuKang, Chengdu, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, DNA Stories Bioinformatics Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Bangxing Zou
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Yaming Jiang
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Beibei Jiao
- Research and Development Center, LyuKang, Chengdu, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, DNA Stories Bioinformatics Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Shaokuan Tang
- Research and Development Center, LyuKang, Chengdu, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, DNA Stories Bioinformatics Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Youhong Zhang
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Cao Deng
- Research and Development Center, LyuKang, Chengdu, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, DNA Stories Bioinformatics Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenfu Xiao
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
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Hou J, Tan C, Chen N, Zhou Y, Huang S, Chen H, Qian L. Establishment of diabetes mellitus model using Bombyx mori silkworms in a low-temperature environment. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 115:e22083. [PMID: 38288495 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Due to the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, researchers have conducted numerous experimental animal studies. However, the mammalian diabetes model is cumbersome and expensive to operate, while the cheap and simple common silkworm diabetes model has the disadvantage of a short cycle time. Since the growth of silkworms is greatly affected by environmental factors, we extended the five-age cycle of silkworms by lowering the ambient temperature to establish a novel low-temperature silkworm diabetes model. Our goal was to determine whether the low-temperature feeding of a high-sugar diet to silkworms could serve as an effective animal model for diabetes. Also, we aimed to resolve certain issues concerning the normal temperature silkworm diabetes model, such as the short time frame for experiments and erratic fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Silkworms weighing between 0.9 and 1.0 g at the beginning of the fifth instar were selected, and we created diabetic silkworms by feeding mulberry leaves containing 4% glucose daily in a 16-20°C environment. When the silkworms were kept at a cooler temperature, the fifth instar stage lasted for an additional 9-11 days. In the model group, 83.3% of the silkworms had blood glucose levels greater than 7.8 mmol/L, while the total prevalence of diabetic silkworms was 89.8%. Moreover, JNK phosphorylation expression rose in the model group, while PI3K expression fell. Additionally, the JNK and PI3K signaling pathway expressions matched diabetic signals. Therefore, using silkworms to create a diabetes model in a cool environment is a straightforward and cost-effective approach to studying diabetes in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Hou
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Cheng Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Nan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Drug and Food Vocational College, Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture, Nanning, China
| | - Shaojun Huang
- Drug and Food Vocational College, Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture, Nanning, China
| | - Huani Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Li Qian
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
- Drug and Food Vocational College, Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture, Nanning, China
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Saad M, El-Samad LM, Gomaa RA, Augustyniak M, Hassan MA. A comprehensive review of recent advances in silk sericin: Extraction approaches, structure, biochemical characterization, and biomedical applications. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 250:126067. [PMID: 37524279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126067] [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: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Silks are natural polymers that have been widely used for centuries. Silk consists of a filament core protein, termed fibroin, and a glue-like coating substance formed of sericin (SER) proteins. This protein is extracted from the silkworm cocoons (particularly Bombyx mori) and is mainly composed of amino acids like glycine, serine, aspartic acid, and threonine. Silk SER can be obtained using numerous methods, including enzymatic extraction, high-temperature, autoclaving, ethanol precipitation, cross-linking, and utilizing acidic, alkali, or neutral aqueous solutions. Given the versatility and outstanding properties of SER, it is widely fabricated to produce sponges, films, and hydrogels for further use in diverse biomedical applications. Hence, many authors reported that SER benefits cell proliferation, tissue engineering, and skin tissue restoration thanks to its moisturizing features, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and mitogenic effect on mammalian cells. Remarkably, SER is used in drug delivery depending on its chemical reactivity and pH-responsiveness. These unique features of SER enhance the bioactivity of drugs, facilitating the fabrication of biomedical materials at nano- and microscales, hydrogels, and conjugated molecules. This review thoroughly outlines the extraction techniques, biological properties, and respective biomedical applications of SER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Saad
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Lamia M El-Samad
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Rehab A Gomaa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Maria Augustyniak
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Mohamed A Hassan
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt.
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Mahanta DK, Komal J, Samal I, Bhoi TK, Dubey VK, Pradhan K, Nekkanti A, Gouda MNR, Saini V, Negi N, Bhateja S, Jat HK, Jeengar D. Nutritional aspects and dietary benefits of "Silkworms": Current scenario and future outlook. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1121508. [PMID: 36742434 PMCID: PMC9892554 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1121508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current scenario, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be an additional 2.5 billion people and a 70% increase in food demand. Crop yields are not increasing fast enough to support global needs, and world agriculture is facing several serious challenges. Therefore, insects can be a nutritious alternative to meet the ever-increasing food demand in the present and future. The majority of insect consumption occurs in developing countries, with approximately 1,900 insect species consumed worldwide. Food and feed derived from them are of high quality, have a high feed conversion ratio and emit a low level of greenhouse gases. Among insects silkworms are beneficial to humans, not only because of their high nutritional value, but also because of their several pharmacological properties. Silkworm eggs, larvae, and pupae contains high amount of proteins, oils, minerals, vitamins, and several other beneficial components which are nutritious as well as have positive effect on human health. Studies have shown that silkworm pupae protect the liver, enhance immunity, inhibit apoptosis, inhibit cancer, inhibit tumor growth, inhibit microbial growth, regulate blood glucose and blood lipids, and lower blood pressure. This review paper summerized the nutritional value of different life stages of silkworm, nutritional comparison of silkworm with the major human foods, and the effects of silkworm consumption on human health, thus ittargets to generate interest toward in sericulture and improve human health by using silkworm as a nutritious food and attain sustainability in food and nutritional security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumar Mahanta
- Department of Entomology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar, India
| | - J. Komal
- Department of Entomology, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India
| | - Ipsita Samal
- Department of Entomology, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
| | - Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi
- Forest Protection Division, ICFRE – Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vinod Kumar Dubey
- Department of Entomology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar, India
| | - Kiranamaya Pradhan
- Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India
| | - Aarthi Nekkanti
- Department of Entomology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India
| | - M. N. Rudra Gouda
- Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Varun Saini
- Department of Seed Science and Technology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India
| | - Nikita Negi
- Department of Entomology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India
| | - Sheenam Bhateja
- Department of Entomology, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Hansa Kumari Jat
- Department of Entomology, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Deepika Jeengar
- Department of Entomology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
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Choi JI, Kweon HY, Lee YL, Lee JH, Lee SY. Efficacy of Silkworm Pupae Extract on Muscle Strength and Mass in Middle-Aged and Older Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Nutr Health Aging 2023; 27:578-585. [PMID: 37498105 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-023-1942-9] [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: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated the efficacy and safety of silkworm pupae extract (SWP) consumption for 12 weeks on muscle mass and strength in middle-aged and older individuals with relatively low skeletal muscle mass who do regular low-intensity exercise. DESIGN A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS The study was conducted with 54 participants with relatively low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (64.4 ± 6.1 years; body mass index, 23.8 ± 2.4 kg/m2). INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1000 mg of SWP/day plus regular exercise (SWP group, n=27) or placebo plus regular exercise (placebo group, n=27). All participants were required to engage in 30-60 minutes/day of walking for ≥3 days/week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was knee extension/flexion strength (Nm), measured at the velocity of 60°/s. Secondary outcomes included body composition, biomarkers (creatine kinase and creatinine), handgrip strength, and quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS Both the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses revealed no significant impact of SWP on knee strength compared to the placebo group over 12 weeks. On the other hand, the SWP group had significantly greater increases in right-handgrip strength by 1.94 kg (95% CI: 0.08-3.79; p = 0.041) and left-handgrip strength by 1.83 kg (0.25-3.41; p = 0.024) compared to the placebo group in the ITT population, after 12 weeks. Moreover, in the PP population, the SWP group revealed an even greater increase in right-handgrip strength by 2.07 kg (0.15-3. 98; p = 0.035) and left-handgrip strength by 2.21 kg (0.60-3.83; p = 0.008) for the 12-week period. However, this study resulted in a failure to detect significant differences in the body composition, biomarkers, quality of life questionnaire, physical activity, and caloric intake between the groups. None of the participants in the SWP group experienced any significant adverse events. In the placebo group, two participants experienced urticaria and allergic side effects, leading to their withdrawal from the study and two exhibited elevated levels of liver enzyme and increased diastolic blood pressure, respectively at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION SWP, in addition to low-intensity exercise, may enhance handgrip strengths in middle-aged and older adults with relatively lower SMM. Future studies need to use a large sample size over longer periods to validate our findings. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04994054.
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Affiliation(s)
- J I Choi
- Sang Yeoup Lee, Family Medicine Clinic, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea, Telephone: +82-55-390-1442, E-mail: , Fax: +82-51-510-8125
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Cappellozza S, Casartelli M, Sandrelli F, Saviane A, Tettamanti G. Silkworm and Silk: Traditional and Innovative Applications. INSECTS 2022; 13:1016. [PMID: 36354840 PMCID: PMC9698470 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The various subjects covered in the present Special Issue "Silkworm and Silk: Traditional and Innovative Applications" demonstrate how sericulture, a practice deeply rooted in human history, can act as a bridge to bring together an exceptionally wide range of scientific and technical expertise in both conventional topics and cutting-edge technologies [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cappellozza
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre Agriculture and Environment, Sericulture Laboratory, 35143 Padova, Italy
| | - Morena Casartelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology (BAT Center), University of Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Saviane
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre Agriculture and Environment, Sericulture Laboratory, 35143 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianluca Tettamanti
- Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology (BAT Center), University of Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Tassoni L, Cappellozza S, Dalle Zotte A, Belluco S, Antonelli P, Marzoli F, Saviane A. Nutritional Composition of Bombyx mori Pupae: A Systematic Review. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13070644. [PMID: 35886820 PMCID: PMC9325104 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) is a domesticated insect traditionally reared to produce silk. Its pupae are historically eaten in Asian countries and are obtained as waste products from the silk reeling industry. Pupae are a promising novel food in Western countries as well as a source of proteins, lipids, and minerals. Several varied results are reported in the literature regarding the nutrient composition of silkworm pupa, and several factors must be considered when comparing the research. Some of the variables that could affect the pupal nutritional content include rearing techniques, diets, silkworm strains, killing, and drying techniques. This literature systematic review identifies the most important research areas and aids authorities and producers in the evaluation and development of silkworm pupae for novel uses. Abstract As insects have started to enter the eating habits of Western countries, an increasing amount of literature regarding the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) prospective application as food has been published. Despite this growing interest, there is currently no systematic review of silkworm nutritional composition available. In this paper, we performed a systematic review of the recent available literature on the nutrient composition of mulberry silkworm pupae. After screening the titles and abstracts of 14,008 studies retrieved from three scientific databases, data about nutrients was extracted from 29 selected papers, together with their related variables. This systematic review provides an overview of the variety of data reported in the literature and highlights that many elements contribute to hindering a sound comparison of the different nutritional values reported for silkworm pupae. The observed variability of the composition data reported could be due to differences in diet, strains, pretreatments, and origin of the silkworm analyzed. However, all these variables were not always available and should be reported in future studies to simplify the data comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Tassoni
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA-AA), 35143 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.S.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Padova, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Cappellozza
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA-AA), 35143 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonella Dalle Zotte
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Padova, Italy;
| | - Simone Belluco
- IZSVe, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (P.A.); (F.M.)
| | - Pietro Antonelli
- IZSVe, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (P.A.); (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Marzoli
- IZSVe, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (P.A.); (F.M.)
| | - Alessio Saviane
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA-AA), 35143 Padova, Italy; (S.C.); (A.S.)
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Silkworm Pupae: A Functional Food with Health Benefits for Humans. Foods 2022; 11:foods11111594. [PMID: 35681343 PMCID: PMC9180533 DOI: 10.3390/foods11111594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Silkworm pupae are insects that are beneficial to human health, not only for their high nutritional value but, more importantly, for the variety of pharmacological functions they can perform when consumed. Currently, there is a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical applications of silkworm pupae. In recent years, the biological functions of domestic silkworm pupae have gradually been identified and confirmed, especially for their beneficial effects on human health. Studies have found that silkworm pupae have positive effects on liver protection, immune enhancement, antiapoptosis, antitumour, antibacterial, regulation of blood glucose and blood lipids, and lowering of blood pressure. However, the pharmacological mechanisms and systemic safety of silkworm pupae have not been systematically evaluated. In this paper, the nutritional composition of the pupae of the domestic silkworm is first summarised. The pharmacological functions of silkworm pupae and their components are then classified, and their mechanisms of occurrence are described. In addition, we provide a preliminary evaluation of the safety of silkworm pupae, analyse their application prospects, and suggest future directions for further pharmacological function studies. The aim is to generate interest in the promotion of human health through the use of silkworm pupae.
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