Characterization of the carotenoid-binding protein of the Y-gene dominant mutants of Bombyx mori

Carotenoids play important and diverse roles in insects. Recently, we purified and partially characterized a carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) from the wild type of Bombyx mori. In this report, we utilized immunoblotting, ELISA and immunocytochemistry to further characterize and localize the expression of CBP in the larval midgut and silk gland obtained from the wild type and four naturally occurring mutants linked to carotenoids transport. CBP was expressed throughout the 5th stadium, with highest expressions on days 4-5 in the silk gland and days 3-5 in the midgut. Immunoblotting analyses demonstrated the presence of CBP along the middle part of the midgut. Microscopic immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the 33 kDa CBP was uniformly expressed along the brush border of columnar cells in the epithelium of the midgut typifying its function in aiding absorption of dietary carotenoids. Similarly, CBP was highly expressed along the distal membrane of the middle part of the silk gland demonstrating its function in uptake of carotenoids from lipophorin. When the middle silk glands and midguts of the four mutants were incubated with rabbit anti-CBP antibody, only proteins of the Y-gene dominant mutants cross reacted with the antibody further accentuating the hypothesis that the CBP is a Y-gene dependent protein.     

A carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) plays a crucial role in cocoon pigmentation of silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae

We examined the role of carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) in yellow cocoon pigmentation. First, using yellow or white cocoon races, we investigated the linkage between the yellow pigmentation and CBP expression. CBP was expressed only in the silk gland of the yellow cocoon races, which utilize carotenoids for cocoon pigmentation. Furthermore, CBP expression in the silk glands of day 1-7 fifth instar larvae matched the period of carotenoid uptake into the silk gland. Finally, we gave double-stranded CBP RNA to Bombyx mori (B. mori) larvae to induce RNA interference. The significantly reduced expression of CBP in the silk gland of fifth instar larva was confirmed on day 4 and a decrease in yellow pigmentation was observed in the cocoon. We showed that CBP plays a key role in the yellow cocoon pigmentation caused by carotenoids.     

The basis for colorless hemolymph and cocoons in the Y-gene recessive Bombyx mori mutants: a defect in the cellular uptake of carotenoids

Bombyx mori is an excellent model for the study of carotenoid-binding proteins (CBP). In previous papers, we identified and molecularly characterized a CBP from the Y-gene dominant mutants. In the present study, we attempted to correlate and establish lipid metabolism and distribution in these mutants. When [3H]-triolein was fed to the mutants, typical patterns of uptake of labeled fatty acids from midgut to hemolymph and subsequent delivery to fat body and silk glands were obtained in all mutants. Further analysis of lipid and carotenoid profiles revealed that the yellow coloration in the hemolymph associated with lipophorin is not attributed to a difference in lipophorin concentrations among the mutants, nor to its lipid composition, but rather to its carotenoid content. Lipophorin of the Y+I mutant exhibited the highest concentration of total carotenoids of 55.8 microg/mg lipophorin compared to 3.1 microg/mg in the +Y+I mutant, 1.2 microg/mg in the YI mutant and 0.5 microg/mg in the +YI mutant. Characteristic retention time in HPLC of the different classes of carotenoids of lipophorin identified the presence of lutein as the major chromophore (62-77%), followed by beta-carotenes (22-38%). Although lutein and beta-carotene content of mutants' lipophorin differed significantly, the ratio of lutein to beta-carotene of 3:1 was not different among mutants. Similarly, lipid compositions of mutant silk glands were not significantly different, but carotenoid contents were. The significantly high concentration of lutein in the Y+I mutant silk gland represented more than 160-fold increase compared to +Y+I mutant (p<0.001). In this report, we conclude that lipid metabolism in the mutants is not defected and that the molecular basis for colorless hemolymph and cocoons is a defect in the cellular uptake of lutein associated with the Y-gene recessive mutants.     

A CD36-related Transmembrane Protein Is Coordinated with an Intracellular Lipid-binding Protein in Selective Carotenoid Transport for Cocoon Coloration

The transport pathway of specific dietary carotenoids from the midgut lumen to the silk gland in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a model system for selective carotenoid transport because several genetic mutants with defects in parts of this pathway have been identified that manifest altered cocoon pigmentation. In the wild-type silkworm, which has both genes, Yellow blood (Y) and Yellow cocoon (C), lutein is transferred selectively from the hemolymph lipoprotein to the silk gland cells where it is accumulated into the cocoon. The Y gene encodes an intracellular carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) containing a lipid-binding domain known as the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer domain. Positional cloning and transgenic rescue experiments revealed that the C gene encodes Cameo2, a transmembrane protein gene belonging to the CD36 family genes, some of which, such as the mammalian SR-BI and the fruit fly ninaD, are reported as lipoprotein receptors or implicated in carotenoid transport for visual system. In C mutant larvae, Cameo2 expression was strongly repressed in the silk gland in a specific manner, resulting in colorless silk glands and white cocoons. The developmental profile of Cameo2 expression, CBP expression, and lutein pigmentation in the silk gland of the yellow cocoon strain were correlated. We hypothesize that selective delivery of lutein to specific tissue requires the combination of two components: 1) CBP as a carotenoid transporter in cytosol and 2) Cameo2 as a transmembrane receptor on the surface of the cells.     

家蚕Wnt信号通路下游关键基因Pangolin转录剪接体X3的克隆和分析

【目的】克隆家蚕Bombyx mori Wnt信号通路下游关键基因Pangolin isoforms A/H/I/S转录剪接体X3 (Pangolin X3),分析其序列和表达特征。【方法】从NCBI数据库检索家蚕Pangolin X3,根据其编码序列(coding sequence, CDS)设计引物,利用PCR从家蚕幼虫中肠和血淋巴中进行克隆并测序验证。利用SilkDB 3.0, SMART, 多序列比对和系统发育树分析Pangolin X3的序列特征。利用qRT-PCR分析Pangolin X3在家蚕5龄第3 天幼虫不同组织(头、血淋巴、体壁、性腺、中肠、前部丝腺、中部丝腺、后部丝腺、脂肪体和马氏管)中的相对表达水平。【结果】从家蚕幼虫中肠和血淋巴克隆了Pangolin X3(GenBank登录号: XM_038020921)的CDS,其开放阅读框长1 560 bp,编码519个氨基酸残基,预测分子量为55.86 kD,预测等电点为7.53。Pangolin X3蛋白含有保守的β catenin结合位点和HMG结构域,其氨基酸序列在不同的昆虫中比较保守,特别是与DNA结合的HMG结构域,而与β-catenin结合的N末端CTNNB1结构域部分氨基酸残基发生变异。组织表达谱显示,Pangolin X3在家蚕5龄第3 天幼虫中肠、血淋巴和性腺中的相对表达水平较高,在头、体壁、前部丝腺、中部丝腺、后部丝腺、脂肪体和马氏管中的相对表达水平较低。【结论】本研究克隆了家蚕Pangolin X3,分析了其序列和表达特征,为深入研究家蚕Pangolin的生物学功能提供了基础。     

基于双元转基因CRISPR/Cas9系统的家蚕pax3基因功能分析

【目的】 本研究旨在以家蚕Bombyx mori为研究模型探索pax3基因在鳞翅目昆虫中的生物学功能。【方法】利用PCR扩增验证家蚕Bmpax3外显子序列;利用qRT-PCR检测Bmpax3在5龄第3天家蚕幼虫头、表皮、脂肪体、中肠、马氏管、前部丝腺、中部丝腺、后部丝腺和生殖腺(包括精巢和卵巢)中的表达谱;利用双元转基因CRISPR/Cas9系统构建Bmpax3敲除突变体,分析Bmpax3突变对家蚕幼虫存活、体节分化及性别差异的影响。【结果】Bmpax3在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫头、中肠和丝腺中均有表达,其中在前部丝腺表达量最高。Bmpax3突变体的卵孵化率约为90%,但约有80%的突变体在1龄幼虫期死亡,有将近10%的突变个体能幸存并发育到成虫阶段,并且存活成虫数存在性别差异,雄性显著多于雌性。在幸存的成虫中,约有将近1/2的个体腹部末端体节分节异常,表皮条纹混乱,腹节腹板部分缺失,生殖器官及其周围的其他辅助器官出现发育缺陷。【结论】Bmpax3发生突变后会对家蚕的生存及形态发育产生较大的影响,提示Bmpax3可能参与了家蚕的生长发育过程。     

家蚕BmlncR2036调控P25基因启动子活性及参与中肠发育调控

【目的】长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA, lncRNA)对家蚕Bombyx mori发育具有重要调控作用。我们在前期研究中发现一个位于家蚕丝素蛋白基因P25附近的lncRNA BmlncR2036。本研究旨在进一步探索BmlncR2036调控家蚕P25基因表达的分子机制。【方法】qPCR检测BmlncR2036在5龄第3天家蚕幼虫不同组织(体壁、脑、神经、精巢、卵巢、丝腺、马氏管、血淋巴、脂肪体和中肠)中和不同发育阶段前丝腺、中丝腺和后丝腺中的表达谱。预测能够同时靶向P25和BmlncR2036的miRNA,利用荧光素酶检测法验证miRNA与P25互作关系。荧光素酶检测法测定BmlncR2036对P25基因启动子转录活性的影响。在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫中注射dsRNA敲低BmlncR2036的表达,观察丝腺及中肠表型的变化。【结果】qPCR结果显示,BmlncR2036在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫和5龄熟蚕的后丝腺中高表达,与P25基因呈现一致的表达趋势;BmlncR2036在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫的精巢和中肠中高表达,在其他组织中表达量较低,暗示其功能的多样性。miR-2739和miR-279a既能够与BmlncR2036匹配,也可能靶向P25基因的3′UTR。但荧光素酶检测法结果显示P25不是miR-2739和miR-279a的真实靶标。BmlncR2036负调控P25启动子活性,共转染pcDNA3.1(+)［BmlncR2036］和pGL3-Enhancer［P25-promoter］载体后,细胞荧光素酶活性极显著下降了52%。在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫中敲低BmlncR2036表达后出现体色变暗,中肠残留大量内容物,直至死亡的现象,表明BmlncR2036可能参与家蚕中肠的发育调控。【结论】发现lncRNA BmlncR2036可调控P25基因启动子活性,还可能参与调控家蚕中肠的发育。本研究为进一步探索家蚕lncRNA的功能提供了实验依据。     

Analysis of a silkworm F1 hybrid with yellow cocoon generated by crossing two white-cocoon strains: Further evidences for the roles of Cameo2 and CBP in formation of yellow cocoon

In this report, we examined the gene expression related to carotenoid transport for a silkworm F₁ hybrid with yellow cocoon generated by crossing two white-cocoon strains, Qiubai and 12-260. Our results showed that, in Qiubai, Cameo2, a transmembrane protein gene belonging to the CD36 family genes, was expressed normally in the silk gland, but no intact carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) mRNA (only the truncated CBP mRNA) was detected in the midgut. In 12-260, we detected the intact CBP mRNA expression in the midgut, but no Cameo2 expression in the silk gland. Regarding the F₁ hybrid from crossing Qiubai and 12-260, both Cameo2 and intact CBP mRNA expressed normally in the silk gland and midgut. HPLC detection confirmed that in the F₁ hybrid the carotenoids could be absorbed from dietary mulberry leaves through the midgut and transferred to silk gland via the hemolymph, which eventually colored cocoons into yellow. We also identified four CBP mRNA isoforms expressed in the midgut of the F₁ hybrid, subsequently named as variants 5–8. Our results provide further evidences for the roles of Cameo2 and CBP in the formation of yellow cocoon of silkworm.     

Combined Effect of Cameo2 and CBP on the Cellular Uptake of Lutein in the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

Formation of yellow-red color cocoons in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, occurs as the result of the selective delivery of carotenoids from the midgut to the silk gland via the hemolymph. This process of pigment transport is thought to be mediated by specific cellular carotenoids carrier proteins. Previous studies indicated that two proteins, Cameo2 and CBP, are associated with the selective transport of lutein from the midgut into the silk gland in Bombyx mori. However, the exact roles of Cameo2 and CBP during the uptake and transport of carotenoids are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the respective contributions of these two proteins to lutein and β-carotene transport in Bombyx mori as well as commercial cell-line. We found that tissues, expressed both Cameo2 and CBP, accumulate lutein. Cells, co-expressed Cameo2 and CBP, absorb 2 fold more lutein (P<0.01) than any other transfected cells, and the rate of cellular uptake of lutein was concentration-dependent and reached saturation. From immunofluorescence staining, confocal microscopy observation and western blot analysis, Cameo2 was localized at the membrane and CBP was expressed in the cytosol. What’s more, bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis showed that these two proteins directly interacted at cellular level. Therefore, Cameo2 and CBP are necessarily expressed in midguts and silk glands for lutein uptake in Bombyx mori. Cameo2 and CBP, as the membrane protein and the cytosol protein, respectively, have the combined effect to facilitate the cellular uptake of lutein.     

Sequestration of host plant carotenoids in the larval tissues of Helicoverpa zea

To determine the cause of the unique yellow coloration in mandibular glands of soybean-fed Helicoverpa zea larvae, the accumulation of carotenoids in various tissues of last instar larvae fed soybean, cotton and tomato foliage was quantified. Five carotenoids were detected in the foliage of all host plants but at significantly different concentrations. Xanthophylls rather than carotenes were most likely to accumulate in larval tissues. Carotenoids accumulated at different rates and some were significantly affected by larval diet. Highest levels of carotenoid accumulation, notably lutein, were detected in the testes, followed by midgut epithelium, fat body and integument. The midgut epithelium contained the greatest and the testes the least diversity of carotenoid types. Low levels of lutein were detected in both labial and mandibular glands. Tomato foliage had the highest carotenoid content and caterpillar tissues fed these leaves often had the highest amounts of carotenoid. However, the accumulation of carotenoids did not protect larvae from antibiotic effects of tomato foliage because these caterpillars had the highest mortality and slowest growth rates of all the three host plants. Transport and absorption of lipid and oxidative stress may be some reasons for differential carotenoid accumulation.     

BmStart1, a novel carotenoid-binding protein isoform from Bombyx mori, is orthologous to MLN64, a mammalian cholesterol transporter

Carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) from the silkworm Bombyx mori is an essential molecule for carotenoid dependent cocoon pigmentation. We identified a novel isoform of CBP, Start1 of B. mori (BmStart1). BmStart1 contains a membrane-spanning MENTAL domain in its N-terminus and a lipid-binding START domain in its C-terminus. This domain architecture is identical to the mammalian MLN64 and Start1 of Drosophila melanogaster (DmStart1), both of which have been implicated to function in cholesterol transport and regulation of steroidogenesis. BmStart1 is expressed in both white and yellow cocoon strains of B. mori, while CBP is only detected in the yellow cocoon strain. BmStart1 mRNA abundance in the prothoracic gland, the main ecdysteroidogenic tissue, positively correlates with changes in the hemolymph ecdysteroid level. Genomic sequence analysis revealed that BmStart1 and CBP are generated from the same gene locus by alternative splicing. Splice site comparison and homology search indicate that BmStart1 is orthologous to both MLN64 and DmStart1. This study implies that alternative splicing of the BmStart1/CBP gene generates unique protein isoforms whose endogenous ligands, sterol or carotenoid, are structurally different.     

家蚕不同茧色品种中cbp基因的结构和表达分析

类胡萝卜素结合蛋白(CBP)是唯一已被确认与家蚕黄色茧形成儡切相关的主要蛋白质。文章选择12个有色茧和白茧蚕品种, 调查了cbp基因结构、转录产物mRNA类型和丝腺类胡萝卜素紫外可见光吸收特征与其茧色的关系。结果表明: 黄色茧蚕品种含有2种或3种cbp基因结构, 同时转录具有CBP功能性的完整 mRNA和缺少第2外显子的mRNA; 绿茧品种间cbp基因结构存在差异, 转录缺少第2外显子的mRNA; 白茧蚕品种cbp基因只有1种结构, 转录缺少第2外显子的mRNA。文章在黄茧品种中新发现的cbp基因第1内含子序列可能具有茧色品种特异性, 家蚕黄茧品种丝腺的紫外可见吸收光谱特征显著区别于绿茧和白茧品种, cbp基因的结构和表达特征与家蚕茧色密切相关。     

Proteome analysis of silk gland proteins from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The silk gland of Bombyx mori is an organ specialized for the synthesis and secretion of silk proteins. We report here the resolution of silk gland proteins by 2-DE and the identification of many of those proteins. This was accomplished by dissecting the glands into several sections, with each exhibiting more than 400 protein spots by 2-DE, of which 100 spots were excised and characterized by in-gel digestion followed by PMF. Ninety-three proteins were tentatively identified. These were then categorized into groups involved in silk protein secretion, transport, lipid metabolism, defense, etc. Western blotting of a 2-DE gel using an antibody of the carotenoid binding protein confirmed the presence of this protein in the silk gland. Proteins including fibroin L-chain and P25 were found as multiple isoforms, some of which contained differential amounts of phosphate residues as analyzed by on-probe dephosphorylation. The current analysis contributes to our understanding of proteins expressed by the silk gland not only of the model lepidopteran B. mori, but also to proteins from other silk-producing insects such as Philosamia cynthia ricini.     

Baculovirus-encoded protein BV/ODV-E26 determines tissue tropism and virulence in lepidopteran insects

Lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) show distinct tissue tropism in host insect larvae. However, the molecular mechanism of this tropism is largely unknown. We quantitatively investigated NPV tissue tropism by measuring mRNA levels of viral genes in 16 tissues from Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV)-infected B. mori larvae and found clear tissue tropism, i.e., BmNPV replicates poorly in the silk glands, midgut, and Malpighian tubule compared with other larval tissues. We next identified the viral genes determining tissue tropism in NPV infection by investigating the phenotypes of larvae infected with 44 BmNPV mutants in which one gene was functionally disrupted by a LacZ cassette insertion. We found that occlusion body (OB) production was markedly enhanced compared with that of the wild type in the middle silk glands (MSGs) of larvae infected with three mutants in which one of three tandemly arrayed genes (Bm7, Bm8, and Bm9) was disrupted. We generated additional mutants in which one or two genes of this gene cluster were partially deleted and showed that Bm8, also known as BV/ODV-E26, was solely required for the suppression of OB production in the MSGs of BmNPV-infected B. mori larvae. Western blotting showed that a LacZ cassette insertion in Bm7 or Bm9 resulted in aberrant expression of Bm8, presumably leading to abnormal OB production in the MSGs. Larval bioassays also revealed that disruption of Bm8 accelerated the death of B. mori larvae. These results suggest that the group I NPV-specific protein BV/ODV-E26 determines tissue tropism and virulence in host lepidopteran insects.     

琥珀蚕丝腺转录因子基因AaSGF-1的克隆、原核表达及组织表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在克隆琥珀蚕Antheraea assama丝腺转录因子基因AaSGF-1,分析其序列特征及表达模式并制备多克隆抗体,为探讨该基因的生理功能奠定基础。【方法】采用RT-PCR和RACE技术从琥珀蚕丝腺中克隆AaSGF-1的cDNA序列,并进行生物信息学分析;利用qPCR检测AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕5龄第4天幼虫不同组织(头、中肠、脂肪体、丝腺、血液、表皮)中的表达模式;构建原核表达质粒载体,在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21中表达AaSGF-1,利用纯化的融合蛋白免疫新西兰兔子,获得高效的抗体。利用免疫荧光技术检测AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕蚁蚕丝腺和表皮及4龄幼虫丝腺中的表达情况。【结果】克隆了琥珀蚕AaSGF-1的cDNA序列(GenBank登录号： MK889510.1),开放阅读框(ORF)序列长1 050 bp,编码349个氨基酸残基,预测蛋白分子质量为38.8 kD,理论等电点(pI)为8.74。qPCR检测结果显示AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕5龄幼虫丝腺组织尤其是后部丝腺中高量表达,而在其他组织中几乎不表达。免疫荧光结果表明AaSGF-1在蚁蚕及4龄幼虫的丝腺中表达。【结论】本研究原核表达了琥珀蚕AaSGF-1,制备了多克隆抗体,证实了AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕幼虫的丝腺中高表达,为进一步研究该基因在琥珀蚕丝腺发育及丝蛋白合成中的作用奠定了基础。     

A new chitinase-related gene, BmChiR1, is induced in the Bombyx mori anterior silk gland at molt and metamorphosis by ecdysteroid.

A novel ecdysteroid-inducible gene was isolated from the anterior silk gland of the silkworm by mRNA differential display and named Bombyx mori chitinase-related gene 1 (BmChiR1). cDNA for BmChiR1 is 3.7 kbp encoding 1080 amino acids. Its predicted protein sequence consists of two tandem-repeated sequences, both showing high similarities to arthropod chitinases but lacking the active site glutamate essential for catalytic activity, suggesting that BmChiR1 protein has no chitinolytic activity. BmChiR1 mRNA was expressed simultaneously with chitinase mRNA in the anterior silk gland at the ends of the penultimate and last larval instar. Injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) into feeding last instar larvae induced accumulation of BmChiR1 mRNA. Topical application of a juvenile hormone analog, fenoxycarb, just after the 20E injection, suppressed this induction. BmChiR1 expression is therefore upregulated by ecdysteroid and downregulated by juvenile hormone.     

家蚕3-羟酰辅酶A脱氢酶基因全长cDNA克隆及其在质型多角体病毒感染家蚕的差异表达

家蚕质型多角体病毒(Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus,BmCPV)是家蚕的重要病毒病原之一,往往给养蚕业生产造成极大危害。我们以前的研究运用基因芯片技术在感染质型多角体病毒的家蚕中肠中鉴定出一个差异表达的3-羟酰辅酶A脱氢酶蛋白基因(Bombyx mori3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehyrogenase protein gene-Bm3HAD)。本研究利用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)克隆了该基因,其全长cDNA序列为1168bp,包含一个83bp5’端非翻译区序列(5’-UTR)、一个930bp的开放阅读框(ORF)和一个155bp的3’端非翻译区序列(3’-UTR);基因结构分析发现该基因由5个外显子和4个内含子组成。RT-PCR结果显示该基因在家蚕中肠、脂肪体、血液、丝腺及生殖体中均有表达。荧光定量PCR结果表明该基因在BmCPV感染初期为上调表达,随着病毒感染的进展,该基因的表达水平逐渐降低,并转变为下调表达。研究结果为进一步研究BmCPV对家蚕致病的分子机制提供了有益的信息。