Complete nucleotide sequences of major plasma protein genes of Bombyx mori

In the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a family of hormone-sensitive genes encodes major plasma proteins, termed '30K proteins'. We reported the organization of the 30K protein gene family together with the structure and expression of a member of the gene family (Mori, S. et al. (1991) J. Mol. Biol. 218, 7-12). In this communication, we present the complete structures of two other 30K protein genes in the family. Sequence analyses demonstrated that all three genes are similar to each other; a short first exon and protein-coding second exon are interspersed by a single intron. Structures homologous to the putative regulatory elements for the 30K protein gene expression are also found around each gene.     

The homeodomain protein PBX participates in JH-related suppressive regulation on the expression of major plasma protein genes in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In the silkworm, Bombyx mori, major plasma proteins referred to as 30K proteins are the most abundant proteins in the hemolymph of final (fifth) instar larvae. Surgical extirpation of corpora allata, the source of a juvenile hormone (JH), causes rapid accumulation of 30K proteins in the hemolymph of fourth instar larvae. The 30K protein 6G1 (30K6G1) gene was repressed in primary cultured fat body cells treated with a JH analog (JHA), methoprene. To identify the JH response element present in the promoter region of the 30K6G1 gene, we performed transfection analyses of the 5'-deletion mutants of the 30K6G1 gene using primary cultured fat body cells, gel retardation assays and in vivo footprinting analysis. The results from those analyses revealed that a JH response element exists in the sequence between positions -147 and -140. When the promoter construct mutated at positions -143, -142, and -141 was transfected to fat body primary cultured cells, the suppression effect on the reporter gene expression caused by JHA was reduced. Gel retardation assay using specific antibody revealed that a PBX protein binds to the JH response element. Northern blot analysis revealed that the gene expression of Bombyx PBX is enhanced in the fat body cells by JHA treatment. These results indicate that PBX proteins are involved in the JH signaling pathway and play an important role in suppressing 30K protein gene expression in the fat body of B. mori.     

家蚕Hox基因研究进展

Hox基因（homeobox genes）在昆虫躯体模式（body plan）的发育调控机制中扮演着重要角色,其表达具有严格的组织特异性和胚胎发育的程序性。家蚕Bombyx mori作为鳞翅目昆虫的代表,其Hox基因也陆续得到鉴定。在家蚕中存在一个拟复等位基因群--E群基因,其突变表型均与过剩斑纹和过剩附肢有关,这可能与Hox基因有着密切联系。家蚕全基因组测序完成后,发现其Hox基因簇中存在12个特有的homeobox基因（Bmshx1~Bmshx12）, 说明家蚕Hox基因可能具有独特的生物学意义。我们还利用家蚕基因芯片数据分析了Bmlab与Bmpb基因的组织表达特征。通过对家蚕Hox基因的研究,探索家蚕躯体模式建立机制,可望为解析其他鳞翅目昆虫的躯体模式的建立机制提供理论依据。本文就家蚕Hox基因的表达、功能及其与E群突变的关系等方面进行了综述。     

Starvation-responsive glycine-rich protein gene in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Four glycine-rich protein (GRP) genes were identified from expressed sequence tags of the maxillary galea of the silkworm. All four genes were expressed in the maxillary pulp, antenna, labrum, and labium, but none of the genes were expressed in most internal organs. Expression of one of the genes, termed bmSIGRP, was further increased approximately fivefold in the mouth region (including the maxilla, antenna, labrum, labium, and mandible) after 24 h of starvation. bmSIGRP expression peaked at 24 h and gradually declined during the subsequent 2 days. When a synthetic diet not containing proteins was fed, bmSIGRP expression increased significantly in the mouth region to levels similar to that observed in starved larvae. Synthetic diets that lacked vitamins or salts but contained amino acids did not significantly affect bmSIGRP expression. These results suggest that amino acid depletion increases bmSIGRP expression.     

Systematic cloning and analysis of autophagy-related genes from the silkworm Bombyx mori

Background  

Through the whole life of eukaryotes, autophagy plays an important role in various biological events including development, differentiation and determination of lifespan. A full set of genes and their encoded proteins of this evolutionarily conserved pathway have been identified in many eukaryotic organisms from yeast to mammals. However, this pathway in the insect model organism, the silkworm Bombyx mori, remains poorly investigated.     

家蚕氨酰-tRNA合成酶基因分析

为了探讨家蚕氨酰-tRNA合成酶(BmaaRS)基因的数目、种类、结构及起源, 利用家蚕基因组数据和EST数据进行了BmaaRS基因的电子克隆, 结果表明, 家蚕核基因组中含有2套不同的aaRS核基因, 分别编码线粒体和细胞质BmaaRS, 但编码线粒体BmSerRS的基因有2个, 可能缺少编码细胞质的BmHisRS基因和编码线粒体的BmGlnRS、BmLysRS、BmGlyRS和BmThrRS基因, 这些基因的功能可能由具有相似功能的其他蛋白完成, 或通过某个BmaaRS基因的可变剪接分别形成不同功能的BmaaRS。EST证据表明, BmaaRS基因存在不同形式的可变剪接; BmaaRS氨基酸序列的相似性及二、三级结构分析表明部分BmaaRS存在结构域的扩增, 有些不同的BmaaRS具有相同结构域, 相同功能的BmaaRS具有相似的三级结构; 进化分析表明, BmaaRS为2套不同来源的BmaaRS基因编码, 细胞质和线粒体BmaaRS的起源不同。     

Functional analysis of four Gloverin-like genes in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

To identify genes involved in the innate immunity of the silkworm Bombyx mori, we constructed a cDNA library from the fat body of Escherichia coli-challenged B. mori larvae. Based on the expressed sequence tag (EST) data and whole genome shotgun sequence analysis, we found four Gloverin-like genes, BmGlov1-4, in the Bombyx genome. Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis showed that BmGlov1-4 were induced in the larval fat body after an immune challenge by the injection of E. coli; however, less induction was observed after the injection of a yeast Candida albicans. In silico sequence analysis revealed the presence of a motif homologous to NF-kappaB binding site in the upstream region of each BmGlov gene. Moreover, we expressed recombinant BmGlov1-4 proteins using the baculovirus expression system, and found that all the recombinant BmGlov1-4 significantly inhibited the growth of E. coli.     

Lysine acetylation stabilizes SP2 protein in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Lysine acetylation (Kac) is a vital post-translational modification that plays an important role in many cellular processes in organisms. In the present study, the nutrient storage proteins in hemolymph were first found to be highly acetylated—particularly SP2 protein, which contains 20 potential Kac sites. Further results confirmed that lysine acetylation could stabilize and up-regulate the protein level of anti-apoptosis protein SP2, thereby improving the survival of H₂O₂-treated BmN cells and suppressing the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. The potential mechanism involved in the inhibition of ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation by crosstalk between lysine acetylation and ubiquitination. Our results showed that the increase in the acetylation level by TSA could decrease the ubiquitination and improve the protein level of SP2, indicating that lysine acetylation could influence the SP2 protein level through competition between ubiquitination and the suppression of ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation, thereby stabilizing the protein. SP2 is a major nutrient storage protein from hemolymph for amino acid storage and utilization. The crosstalk between lysine acetylation and ubiquitination of SP2 might imply an important role of lysine acetylation for nutrient storage and utilization in silkworm.     

家蚕ABP与ABPX基因定位与表达分析

气味结合蛋白（odorant binding proteins, OBPs）在昆虫与外界环境化学信息交流过程中起着重要作用, 对昆虫的觅食、 求偶、 繁殖具有重要意义。触角结合蛋白（antennal binding protein, ABP）是OBP家族中的重要成员之一。为进一步探明家蚕Bombyx mori ABP与ABPX基因的结构、 表达及功能, 本研究利用染色体定位、 基因分析及半定量表达分析方法对其进行了研究。染色体定位分析表明, BmABP和BmABPX分别位于家蚕第5和第26染色体上, 基因结构差异较大, 可能功能上有较大差异。对家蚕胚胎、 幼虫和成虫不同发育阶段的雌、 雄虫多种组织进行基因表达谱分析发现, BmABP在家蚕发育的各个虫态、 多种组织器官中都有较高表达, 无时间特异性和组织特异性; BmABPX在不同发育时期和不同组织间差异显著（P<0.05）, 相对表达量以触角中最高, 其他非嗅觉组织中也多有表达, 性别间差异不大。结果提示, BmABP和BmABPX除了具有嗅觉相关功能外, 很可能还具有其他未知的生理功能。     

Biosynthesis of major plasma proteins in the primary culture of fat body cells from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Plasma proteins termed "SP1" and "30K proteins" are synthesized by the fat body cells of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, in a sex- and stage-specific manner during larval development. We successfully established a primary culture of the fat body cells in order to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of plasma protein gene expression. The primary cultures of fat body cells contained at least two cell types: small oval cells, and large spherical cells. The cells adhered to and migrated on the cultured dish after plating. By the 7th day of cultivation, the cells clustered to form fat body-like structures, which were maintained for at least 3 months. Plasma proteins were actively synthesized in the primary cultures of the fat body cells isolated from the final instar larvae only when the cells tightly adhered to and clustered on the cultured dish. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that only 10-15% of the clustered cells synthesized plasma proteins in our culture system, indicating that the primary culture comprises heterogeneous cells that are morphologically and functionally distinct. The patterns of SP1 syntheses in primary cultures faithfully reproduced their sex-dependency in vivo.     

家蚕醛氧化酶基因（BmAOXs）的鉴定与表达分析

醛氧化酶（aldehyde oxidases, AO, EC 1.2.3.1）是属于钼-黄素酶（molybdo-flavoenzymes, MFEs）家族的一类蛋白酶。为了探讨该酶在家蚕Bombyx mori中的功能, 本研究对家蚕醛氧化酶基因（BmAOXs）家族进行了鉴定和分析。以其他物种AO基因序列检索家蚕全基因组数据库, 获得了8个BmAOX候选基因, 均具有醛氧化酶保守的功能域。进化分析表明, BmAOX与其他昆虫AO聚为一簇。RT-PCR分析结果显示: BmAOX1, BmAOX2, BmAOX3, BmAOX5具有很强的组织特异性; 而BmAOX4, BmAOX6, BmAOX7, BmAOX8则在蛹和成虫的多个组织中均有表达, 提示它们在家蚕生理代谢活动中起重要作用。利用Native PAGE和活性染色方法, 对BmAOX编码的蛋白进行检测, 结果表明: 家蚕蛹中有5种有活性的醛氧化酶, 而成虫中有6种, 各组织中均有有活性的BmAOX, 只是种类和活性水平有所不同。本研究结果为深入探讨BmAOX家族的功能奠定了基础。     

A novel Rel protein and shortened isoform that differentially regulate antibacterial peptide genes in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Two cDNAs encoding novel Rel proteins were cloned from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. These cDNA clones (BmRelA and BmRelB) showed identical nucleotide sequences except for the 5'-region. BmRelB cDNA derived probably from an alternatively spliced mRNA lacked 241 bp nucleotides at the 5'-region of the BmRelA cDNA, resulting in a loss of the first 52 amino acids. Expression of antibacterial peptide genes was strongly inhibited upon infection with Micrococcus luteus in transgenic silkworms in which BmRel gene expression was knocked down, suggesting that these two Rel proteins are involved in activation of antibacterial peptide genes. Co-transfection experiments indicated that BmRelB activated the Attacin gene strongly and other genes to a lesser extent, whereas BmRelA activated Lebocin 4 gene strongly and Attacin and Lebocin 3 genes very weakly. The Rel homology domain of BmRelA and BmRelB was shown to bind specifically to kappaB sites of antibacterial peptide genes. Proline-rich domains of the BmRels were necessary for activation of antibacterial peptide genes. These results illustrate that a minor structural change in Rel proteins can provoke a dramatic differential activation of antibacterial peptide genes, suggesting a novel regulatory mechanism for insect antibacterial peptide gene expression.     

家蚕细胞色素P450基因的研究进展

细胞色素P450（P450s, CYPs）超基因家族是由数量众多、 功能复杂的一类血红蛋白酶基因所组成, 对许多结构多样的外源与内源化合物起着氧化代谢的作用。本文系统地综述了家蚕Bombyx mori基因组中P450s的数量与种类, 其数量比食腐昆虫和杂食性的植食昆虫少, 但比意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera多, 在基因组中大多呈串联重复排列, 基因结构与系统进化树之间有着紧密的联系。家蚕与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster P450s的比较基因组学分析发现, 存在10对直向同源基因, 但CYP3与CYP4集团（Clan）的P450s表现出种属特异性扩增。家蚕P450s与其蜕皮激素和保幼激素合成代谢有关, 并涉及到对氟化物与杀虫剂抗性。家蚕作为鳞翅目昆虫的代表, 通过对其P450s的研究, 可望为其他昆虫, 特别是鳞翅目昆虫的生长发育研究和抗性治理提供理论依据和研究模式。