Titanium nanoparticles influence the Akt/Tor signal pathway in the silkworm,Bombyx mori,silk gland

Various nanoparticles, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) are increasingly used in industrial processes. Because they are released into the environment, research into their influence on the biosphere is necessary. Among its other effects, dietary TiO₂NPs promotes silk protein synthesis in silkworms, which prompted our hypothesis that TiO₂NPs influence protein kinase B (Akt)/Target of rapamycin (Tor) signaling pathway (Akt/Tor) signaling in their silk glands. The Akt/Tor signaling pathway is a principle connector integrating cellular reactions to growth factors, metabolites, nutrients, protein synthesis, and stress. We tested our hypothesis by determining the influence of dietary TiO₂NPs (for 72 h) and, separately, of two Akt/Tor pathway inhibitors (LY294002 and rapamycin) on expression of Akt/Tor signaling pathway genes and proteins in the silk glands. TiO₂NPs treatments led to increased accumulation of mRNAs for Akt, Tor1 and Tor2 by 1.6‐, 12.1‐, and 4.8‐fold. Dietary inhibitors led to 2.6‐ to 4‐fold increases in mRNAs encoding Akt and substantial decreases in mRNAs encoding Tor1 and Tor2. Western blot analysis showed that dietary TiO₂NPs increased the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream proteins. LY294002 treatments led to inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and its downstream proteins and rapamycin treatments similarly inhibited the phosphorylation of Tor‐linked downstream proteins. These findings support our hypothesis that TiO₂NPs influence Akt/Tor signaling in silk glands. The significance of this work is identification of specific sites of TiO₂NPs actions.     

家蚕前部丝腺特异表皮蛋白Bm11721的鉴定及表达

家蚕的丝腺是其丝蛋白合成和分泌的器官,根据其形态和功能的不同分为前部、中部和后部丝腺,前部丝腺不具有合成丝蛋白的能力,是丝蛋白构象发生转变的场所。剪切力在丝蛋白构象转变中起到重要的作用,其在家蚕前部丝腺主要由前部丝腺逐渐变细的管腔结构和富含几丁质及表皮蛋白的坚硬的内壁提供。鉴定家蚕前部丝腺新的几丁质结合蛋白,并调查其在家蚕幼虫不同组织的表达特征。通过几丁质亲和层析的方法在前部丝腺筛选并鉴定到一个新的具有几丁质结合功能的表皮蛋白Bm11721,其编码基因编号为BGIBMGA011721(Gen Bank Accession No.NM-001173285.1)。利用原核表达系统成功表达了该蛋白,通过Ni-NTA亲和层析的方法获得了Bm11721的重组蛋白并制备了多克隆抗体。组织表达分析发现无论是转录水平还是蛋白水平Bm11721均只在前部丝腺特异表达,且Bm11721蛋白在5龄期的前部丝腺中恒定表达。免疫荧光定位结果显示Bm11721蛋白定位在前部丝腺的内膜中,推测其可能与前部丝腺的机械硬度有关,为丝蛋白的构象转变提供剪切力。     

Effects of starvation and hormones on DNA synthesis in silk gland cells of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Silk gland cells of silkworm larvae undergo multiple cycles of endomitosis for the synthesis of silk proteins during the spinning phase. In this paper, we analyzed the endomitotic DNA synthesis of silk gland cells during larval development, and found that it was a periodic fluctuation, increasing during the vigorous feeding phase and being gradually inhibited in the next molting phase. That means it might be activated by a self‐regulating process after molting. The expression levels of cyclin E, cdt1 and pcna were consistent with these developmental changes. Moreover, we further examined whether these changes in endomitotic DNA synthesis resulted from feeding or hormonal stimulation. The results showed that DNA synthesis could be inhibited by starvation and re‐activated by re‐feeding, and therefore appears to be dependent on nutrition. DNA synthesis was suppressed by in vivo treatment with 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E). However, there was no effect on DNA synthesis by in vitro 20E treatment or by either in vivo or in vitro juvenile hormone treatment. The levels of Akt and 4E‐BP phosphorylation in the silk glands were also reduced by starvation and in vivo treatment with 20E. These results indicate that the activation of endomitotic DNA synthesis during the intermolt stages is related to feeding and DNA synthesis is inhibited indirectly by 20E.     

丝蛋白合成和分泌期家蚕丝腺中有氧氧化特性分析

【目的】有氧氧化中葡萄糖(Glc)、丙酮酸(PA)、乙酰Co A(AC)、还原型吡啶核苷酸(NADH)和腺苷三磷酸(ATP)摩尔数的理论比值为1∶2∶2∶10∶30~32,而己糖激酶(HK)、磷酸果糖激酶1(PFK1)、丙酮酸激酶(PK)、丙酮酸脱氢酶(PDH)、柠檬酸合酶(CS)、异柠檬酸脱氢酶(ICDHm)、α-酮戊二酸脱氢酶(α-KGDH)、NADH泛醌还原酶(NCR)、琥珀酸泛醌还原酶(SCR)、泛醌细胞色素C还原酶(CCR)、细胞色素C氧化酶(CCO)和ATP合酶(AS)活性的理论比值为1∶1∶2∶2∶2∶2∶2∶10∶2∶12∶12∶26~28。本研究旨在分析丝蛋白合成和分泌期家蚕Bombyx mori丝腺有氧氧化的特性。【方法】利用分光光度法和高效液相色谱法测定了上述生化指标的变化。【结果】丝蛋白合成和分泌期家蚕丝腺中检测不到Glc,产物含量以1/30 ATP,1/10 NADH,1/2 AC和1/2 PA的顺序递增;糖酵解途径相关酶活性,以PFK1活性最低;三羧酸循环相关酶活性以1/2 ICDHm,1/2α-KGDH和1/2 CS的顺序递增;氧化磷酸化相关酶包括1/26 AS,1/10 NCR,1/2 SCR,1/12 CCR和1/12 CCO的活性以1/26 AS活性最低;1/26 AS,1/2 ICDHm,1/2 PDH和PFK1的活性依次递增。NADH含量、ATP含量、PFK1活性、PDH活性和NCR活性在丝蛋白合成期升高,但在丝蛋白分泌期下降。【结论】据此推测,家蚕丝腺中PFK1,ICDHm和AS分别是糖酵解途径、三羧酸循环和氧化磷酸化的限速酶;糖酵解途径、丙酮酸脱氢、三羧酸循环和氧化磷酸化速率依次递减;有氧氧化速率在丝蛋白合成期升高,相反在丝蛋白分泌期降低。     

Study on fibroin heavy chain of the silkworm Bombyx mori by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

The sericulture industry plays a very important role in our national economy. Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is always regarded as a model animal and biological reactor. There have been detailed studies on the structure, expression and control and molecular evolution of silk genes. However, few, if any, reports are available on the localization of structural genes in silkworm by molecular cytogenetics. The present experiment has tentatively localized the Fib-H gene at the distal end of the 25th linkage group, namely at the 25-0.0 position, and verified that Fib-H has only one locus, thus providing a temporary solution to the problem about its localization.     

Expression of hIGF-I in the silk glands of transgenic silkworms and in transformed silkworm cells

To express human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I) in transformed Bombyx mori cultured cells and silk glands, the transgenic vector pigA3GFP-hIGF-ie-neo was constructed with a neomycin resistance gene driven by the baculovirus ie-1 promoter, and with the hIGF-I gene under the control of the silkworm sericin promoter Ser-1. The stably transformed BmN cells expressing hIGF-I were selected by using the antibiotic G418 at a final concentration of 700—800 μg/mL after the BmN cells were transfected with the piggyBac vector and the helper plasmid. The specific band of hIGF-I was detected in the transformed cells by Western blot. The expression level of hIGF-I, determined by ELISA, was about 7800 pg in 5×10⁵ cells. Analysis of the chromosomal insertion sites by inverse PCR showed that exogenous DNA could be inserted into the cell genome randomly or at TTAA target sequence specifically for piggyBac element transposition. The transgenic vector pigA3GFP-hIGF-ie-neo was transferred into the eggs using sperm-mediated gene transfer. Finally, two transgenic silkworms were obtained after screening for the neo and gfp genes and verified by PCR and dot hybridization. The expression level of hIGF-I determined by ELISA was about 2440 pg/g of silk gland of the transgenic silkworms of the G1 generation.     

Analysis of ESTs and gene expression patterns of the poste-rior silkgland in the fifth instar larvae of silkworm, Bom-byx mori L.

The fibroin gene expression pattern and regulation of the posterior silkgland were studied by means of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) using the first and fifth day larvae of the fifth instar of silkworm, Bombyx mori L (strain: C 108). The results showed that there were 911 repetitive ESTs and 1950 single sequences (Singlets) among total 2861 consentient sequences, which were spliced. 1335 sequences were identified and the other 1526 were unknown. 5560 sequences (55.89%) in the posterior silkgland cell of the silkworm were new ESTs without ho-mology with EST data published by Mita et al. The number of repetitive ESTs and single sequences from the first day larvae of the fifth instar was double more than that of the fifth day of the same instar in the silkworms. The unigenes which were more than 50 in repetitive EST size (contig size) came to only about 0.5% in total consentient sequences. There were significant differences between gene expression frequencies, and expressed genes were related to fibroin synthesis and its secretion and fibroin composition. Comparing the fifth day with the first day of the fifth instar, the genes-expressed quantity of fibroin heavy-chain gene was 18 fold higher, fibroin light-chain gene 9 fold and fibroin P52 gene 8 fold. 508 genes functioned for cellular component and 315 for enzyme after function tracing. These results implied that the gene expression of the first day was mainly for preparation for fibroin synthesis except for the growth of silkgland cells, and the gene expression of the fifth day of the fifth instar was mainly for synthesizing and excreting fibroin. Because the ratio of heavy chain, light chain and p25 of fibroin was not 6:6:1 as theoretically expected, or its special H-chain structure, the H-chain gene was not easy to detect through EST technique. Most of genes among total 2861 consentient sequences functioned for fibroin synthesis and secretion. This suggested the fibroin synthesis and secretion procedure of the posterior silkgland was more complex than the knowledge we have.     

Report on construction of gene-targeting vector for homologous recombination and transformation in silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Abstract:  This paper reports the methods of construction of gene-targeting vector for transformation of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The genomic DNA was isolated from the posterior silk gland of the fifth-instar silkworm larvae. The short fragment (0.5 kb) and long fragment (5 kb) of the fibroin light-chain gene were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with special primers and genome DNA as templates and then recombined with pBlueselect vector into pBs-FS-FL. The target green flourescent protein (GFP) gene, was derived from pGEP-1 vector and recombined with pUC19 vector into pUCG vector. GFP was recovered after cutting with restriction endonucleases, Pst I and Bam HI. Finally, GFP was recombined with pBs-FS-FL into gene-targeting vector, pBs-FS-GFP-FL.     

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B...     

家蚕let-7 microRNA靶基因Bmlin-41的克隆表达与调控

异时性基因调控细胞增殖和个体发育阶段的转换。家蚕异时性基因在家蚕变态发育过程中也很可能具有重要的调控作用,但它们的表达模式、生物学功能以及与micro RNA之间的关系却鲜有报道。本研究首先利用果蝇同源基因lin-41搜索家蚕基因组数据库中相似序列,设计引物扩增Bmlin-41的编码序列,克隆了家蚕Bmlin-41基因CDS,其长度为2 166 bp,编码721个氨基酸,含有B-box和NHL结构域;随后,利用RT-PCR、q PCR技术并结合已有的家蚕全基因组芯片数据研究了Bmlin-41在家蚕中的时空表达模式,发现Bmlin-41在从家蚕胚胎到成虫的发育过程中呈逐渐递增的表达趋势,在五龄3 d不同组织中,于卵巢里表达量最高,精巢和中肠次之,而其余组织中低量表达或不表达;最后,利用3′RACE克隆了Bmlin-41基因的3′UTR,全长1 434 bp,用在线软件RNAhybrid预测发现Bmlin-41的3′UTR上存在bmo-let-7靶位点,构建了含Bmlin-41 3′UTR的双荧光素酶报告基因载体,在S2细胞上共转染Bmlin-41 3′UTR和bmo-let-7的模拟物(Mimics)和拮抗剂(Antagomir),bmo-let-7 mimics显著下调Bmlin-41,bmo-let-7 antagomir显著上调Bmlin-41,证实了Bmlin-41是bmo-let-7的靶基因。以上研究结果为深入研究let-7 mi RNA和Bmlin-41的功能,揭示Bmlin-41和bmo-let-7在家蚕变态发育过程中的调控关系提供了新的线索。     

家蚕CyPA基因的克隆、表达谱及进化分析

CyP蛋白家族在蛋白质折叠过程中起着重要作用。本研究克隆了家蚕Bombyx mori CyPA基因(BmCyPA),该基因由2个外显子和1个内含子组成,推导开放阅读框编码165个氨基酸,分子量为19.4 kD,等电点为8.79。序列分析表明BmCyPA在不同物种间具有高度的保守性,含有肽酰脯氨酸顺反异构酶活性位点及与CsA侧链结合的氨基酸,提示BmCyPA可能具有肽酰脯氨酸顺反异构酶活性和与CsA结合的特性。组织表达谱及EST数据分析显示,BmCyPA在丝腺中高丰度表达。通过对不同物种来源的CyP基因的进化分析,进一步预测了BmCyP基因的功能,BmCyP可能与丝蛋白的正确折叠相关。     

Three vital RNA functions and interactions in the process of silk gland apoptosis in silkworm Bombyx mori

The Silkworm Bombyx mori is an important insect in terms of economics and a model organism with a complete metamorphosis. The economic importance of silkworms is dependent on the functions of the silkgland, a specialized organ that synthesizes silk proteins. The silk gland undergoes massive degeneration during the larval to pupal stage, which involves in cell apoptosis. In this paper, high throughput sequencing was used to detect the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) from silk glands of Day 3 in the fifth instar larvae (L5D3) and the spinning 36h (sp36h). We analyzed the Gene Ontology (GO) functions of target genes of the differentially expressed lncRNAs and miRNAs. We investigated the regulations of mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA on silk gland apoptosis in L5D3 and sp36h. In total, 10,947 lncRNAs were detected in the silk gland and the index number TCONS‐00021360 lncRNA may be involved in the process of apoptosis. In addition, 344 miRNAs targeted 285 mRNAs were related to the death process under GO entry. The results indicated that miRNAs play an important role in the molecular regulation of the silk gland apoptosis compared with that of lncRNAs. Finally, we screened 746 lncRNAs and 20 miRNAs that might interact with BmDredd, and drew an interaction network among them.     

Analysis of ESTs and gene expression patterns of the posterior silkgland in the fifth instar larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The fibroin gene expression pattern and regulation of the posterior silkgland were studied by means of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) using the first and fifth day larvae of the fifth instar of silkworm, Bombyx mori L (strain: C 108). The results showed that there were 911 repetitive ESTs and 1950 single sequences (Singlets) among total 2861 consentient sequences, which were spliced. 1335 sequences were identified and the other 1526 were unknown. 5560 sequences (55.89%) in the posterior silkgland cell of the silkworm were new ESTs without homology with EST data published by Mita et al. The number of repetitive ESTs and single sequences from the first day larvae of the fifth instar was double more than that of the fifth day of the same instar in the silkworms. The unigenes which were more than 50 in repetitive EST size (contig size) came to only about 0.5% in total consentient sequences. There were significant differences between gene expression frequencies, and expressed genes were related to fibroin synthesis and its secretion and fibroin composition. Comparing the fifth day with the first day of the fifth instar, the genes-expressed quantity of fibroin heavy-chain gene was 18 fold higher, fibroin light-chain gene 9 fold and fibroin P52 gene 8 fold. 508 genes functioned for cellular component and 315 for enzyme after function tracing. These results implied that the gene expression of the first day was mainly for preparation for fibroin synthesis except for the growth of silkgland cells, and the gene expression of the fifth day of the fifth instar was mainly for synthesizing and excreting fibroin. Because the ratio of heavy chain, light chain and p25 of fibroin was not 6:6:1 as theoretically expected, or its special H-chain structure, the H-chain gene was not easy to detect through EST technique. Most of genes among total 2861 consentient sequences functioned for fibroin synthesis and secretion. This suggested the fibroin synthesis and secretion procedure of the posterior silkgland was more complex than the knowledge we have.     

Analysis of cytochrome P450 genes in silkworm genome (Bombyx mori)

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) are im-portant metabolic enzymes involved in the metabolism not only of a wide range of endogenous compounds such as fatty acids, steroids, hormones or vitamins, but also of exogenous substrates such as drugs, chemicals including environmental pollutants, such carcinogens as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides[1]. P450s are found virtually in all aerobic organisms, including organisms as diverse as in insects, plants, mammals, birds and bacter…     

基于amy基因的中国野桑蚕遗传多样性及其与家蚕的系统发育关系

为探索中国野桑蚕Bombyx mandarina的遗传多样性及其与家蚕B. mori的系统发育关系, 采用PCR产物直接测序法（少数样本克隆测序）获得34个家蚕和野桑蚕样本淀粉酶基因amy序列片段（715 bp）。分析发现56个多态性位点, 鉴定出28种单倍型（haplotype）; 核苷酸多样性π=0.01390±0.00103, 单倍型多样度Hd=0.988±0.011。核苷酸不配对分析（mismatch analysis）和Fu’s Fs 检测表明中国野桑蚕曾发生过种群扩张。分子方差分析（AMOVA）表明, 遗野桑蚕传差异主要在种群内, 种群间和地理组群间差异不显著。聚类树上34个样本聚为3枝/3蔟, 野蚕和家蚕都不按地理区域或系统（类型）聚类, A枝由来自不同地区的野蚕和不同类型的家蚕混合构成, 并且进一步分成3个亚枝, 每一亚枝也同时包含家蚕和野蚕, B枝由3个家蚕和1个野蚕混合构成, C枝全部由来自不同地区的野蚕构成。网络分析没有发现“祖先单倍型”和优势单倍型。结果提示, 淀粉酶基因是一个多态性丰富的分子标记, 中国野桑蚕遗传多样性十分丰富, 据此推测家蚕起源于多种生态类型混杂的野桑蚕。     

Regulation of genes for ubiquitination and SUMO-specific protease involved in larval development of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Protein modifications with highly conserved small proteins, such as ubiquitin (Ub) and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), regulate various cellular processes; however, the contribution of these protein modifications to larval development in insects has not yet been elucidated. We investigated the regulation of genes for these protein modifications in the posterior silk gland (PSG) during larval development of the silkworm Bombyx mori. We found that several genes encoding enzymes (E1, E2, and E3) for ubiquitination and SUMO-specific protease were upregulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and, consistently, increases in ubiquitinated proteins were observed during the fourth molting stage. An injection of 20E into larvae at the fourth feeding stage induced higher expression levels of these E1, E2, and E3 genes and ecdysis approximately one day earlier than in mock-treated larvae. The expression of the fibroin heavy-chain gene (fibH) was simultaneously suppressed approximately one day earlier in 20E-injected larvae. The treatment of cultured PSG with 20E also induced these genes, which could be categorized into at least two types: those induced by a high dose of 20E, or by a pulse of 20E. In contrast to the 20E treatment, the administration of PR-619, an inhibitor of Ub- and SUMO-specific proteases in larvae, delayed ecdysis and prolonged the expression of fibH. These results suggest that the regulation of genes for ubiquitination and SUMO-specific protease is involved in the larval development of B. mori.     

Exogenous prostaglandin F2alpha as a mediator in the regulation of silkworm growth and silk gland genome

Prostaglandins are locally acting hormones that have remarkable variety of physiological functions. They are rapidly synthesized in several types of vertebrate cells as oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid in response to various stimuli. In many insect species they are biosynthesized in fat body and hemocytes mainly in response to bacterial infections. In the present study, we administered synthetic analog of prostaglandin F2alpha, the most prominent of the prostaglandins to the 48 h old fifth instar silkworm, Bombyx mori L. at a single dose of 4 microg per larva to study its effects on the larval growth pattern and silk synthesis. The possible role of PGF2alpha at altering the quantum of silk synthesis by controlling the silk gene expression was also studied. The genomic DNA was isolated from the posterior silk gland on Days 5 and 7 of the fifth instar from the prostaglandin treated and the control larvae and were random amplified with arbitrary primers. The result presented notable variation in the amplified product suggesting the participation of PGF2alpha in the silk biosynthesis controlling the silk gene expression. The feeding period of treated larvae was unaffected while the cocoon characters exhibited considerable improvement. The filament traits also were improved notably in the treated larvae. The participation of PGF2alpha analog in the silk biosynthetic process with its physiological and molecular implications are discussed.     

家蚕Bmyan基因的克隆表达和作为microRNA 7靶基因的验证

microRNAs(miRNAs)是一类长约22 nt的非编码RNA,通过与其靶基因3′端非翻译区(3′-UTR)的结合来调节各项生命活动。克隆表达家蚕Bmyan基因,验证其是否是bmo-miR-7的靶基因对于深入研究家蚕变态发育机制有重要意义。基于同源性检索和PCR扩增,克隆了家蚕Bmyan基因CDS全长,编码476个氨基酸。序列分析表明,家蚕YAN蛋白的氨基酸序列保守,含SAM-PNT和ETs结构域。芯片数据、RT-PCR和定量PCR的检测结果表明,Bmyan在五龄3 d的家蚕头部、体壁、卵巢中高量表达,在其余组织中低量表达或不表达。在幼虫期,Bmyan表达水平相对较低,但在上蔟期和蛹期前4 d高量表达。通过3′RACE克隆了Bmyan基因的3′-UTR。RNAhybrid在线软件预测了其3'-UTR上bmo-miR-7的两个靶位点。构建了含有Bmyan基因3′-UTR和荧光素酶报告基因的转染载体,将该载体与bmo-miR-7的mimics序列共转染到家蚕胚胎细胞系BmE中,通过测定荧光素酶的活性,证明了Bmyan基因是bmo-miR-7的靶基因。本研究为进一步揭示bmo-miR-7和Bmyan在家蚕体内的生物学功能奠定了基础。