家蚕性附腺发育与核酸及利它素蛋白变化的关系

对不同发育时期家蚕Bombyx mori雌性性附腺核酸和蛋白质含量测定的结果表明, 从家蚕化蛹后第6天到成虫羽化当天的性附腺内总蛋白质含量不断增加,至羽化当天为最高,达860±70 μg/对。不同时期内能引诱野蚕黑卵蜂识别寄主的利它素在总蛋白中所占的比例差异明显,从化蛹后第6天的10%增加到羽化后的58%。性附腺的总RNA含量从化蛹第6天到成虫羽化前1天几乎是直线增加,但羽化后下降很快。不同时期分泌部中总RNA含量变化与贮存部明显不同。含量最高时,分泌部RNA可占整个性附腺RNA的90%以上,而贮存部总RNA含量则远少于分泌部,羽化当天约为分泌部的十分之一。分泌部总RNA中的18S亚基含量远高于28S亚基,明显不同于贮存部的。从分泌部总RNA中分离的mRNA存在明显的条带分布,这预示着高丰度的mRNA的存在与总蛋白中高含量利它素的存在有着特殊对应关系。     

蓖麻蚕在变态期间代谢作用的研究——Ⅲ.酸性磷酸一酯酶的性质及其活力在变态期的变化

蓖麻蚕在变态期血淋巴酸性磷酸一酯酶活力随着蚕体的发育不断发生变化。在五龄起蚕,五龄四天及前蛹期酶活力较高,化蛹时显著降低,羽化前后又复升高。酶活力按血淋巴单位体积计算。雌雄两性差异不显著。但由于五龄中期以后,血淋巴蛋白质含量雌体大于雄体:故自五龄中期以后,酶的比活力雄体大于雌体。此酶在组织中的分布及其活力变化如下:在幼虫五龄盛食期消化道酶活力较高,其中尤以中肠酶活力最高。脂肪体和丝腺仅有微弱的酶活力。脂肪体酶活力有蛹期上升,羽化后达到最高点。此表明蓖麻蚕中肠在五龄盛食期具有旺盛的磷酸化及脱磷酸化作用,为代谢的活跃场所。在蛹及成虫体,消化道退化,脂肪体在代谢方面占了主要位置。昆虫血淋巴和其它动物血液不同的一个方面是它含有大量的磷酸酯类。影响血淋巴磷酸酯类的种类及其含量变化的,主要有两个因素:一是血淋巴本身对于不同的磷酸酸类的选择水解,蓖麻蚕在变态期血淋巴不同专一性磷酸酯酶的存在及其活力的变化,就是血淋巴选择水解的决定因素:另一是组织磷酸酯类对于血淋巴的选择分泌;本研究表明五龄幼虫中肠及脂肪体,尤其是蛹和成虫的脂肪体是血淋巴磷酸酯的重要来源。此外还研究了血淋巴磷酸一酯酶的性质,及某些金属离子,有机酸等对该酶活力的抑制及激活作用。     

家蚕的各种应用

家蚕和人类相伴生存了5000年之久,除了取茧、缫丝获取精美的丝绸之外,家蚕自身许多独特的作用也被人们——挖掘,从卵、幼虫、蛹、蚕蜕、茧及粪便等均被研究出具有药用价值,可以毫不夸张地说家蚕浑身都是宝。蚕蛹蚕蛹中含有丰富的蛋白质和脂肪,包括人体所必需的8种氨基酸;蛹油的脂肪酸中不饱和脂肪酸占75%,其营养价值可与猪肉、禽蛋相媲美。具有很高的食用价值。过去,蚕蛹是蚕茧缫丝后缫丝厂的下脚物,蚕区多作为禽畜及塘鱼饲料。     

家蚕幼虫-蛹变态期前胸腺和脂肪体细胞解离和程序性细胞死亡的比较分析

【目的】检测家蚕Bombyx mori变态期前胸腺细胞的解离、自噬与凋亡,并与脂肪体的进行对比,从而解析昆虫幼虫-蛹变态期过程中不同组织重塑的异同。【方法】以家蚕5龄期、游走期、预蛹期和蛹期前胸腺和脂肪体组织为材料,在光学显微镜下观察前胸腺和脂肪体细胞解离情况;分别利用Lyso-Tracker和TUNEL染色,在荧光共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞自噬和细胞凋亡的发生情况;利用qRT-PCR检测家蚕前胸腺中自噬发生标志基因Atg8的表达水平;利用透射电镜观察前胸腺和脂肪体细胞自噬小体和前胸腺线粒体;利用Caspase3酶活性检测试剂盒测定Caspase3酶活性;利用qRT-PCR检测前胸腺中蜕皮酮(ecdysone)合成相关基因Spo,Phm,Dib和Sad的表达水平;利用酶免疫试验(enzyme-immunoassay, EIA)测定前胸腺中蜕皮酮的含量,进而检测合成蜕皮酮的活力。【结果】在家蚕幼虫到蛹的变态发育过程中,在化蛹第1天家蚕前胸腺和脂肪体细胞中同时开始出现细胞解离;脂肪体细胞自噬和凋亡分别在游走期和预蛹第1天开始出现并逐渐增强;而前胸腺一直到化蛹第2天都没有发生明显的细胞自噬和凋亡;此外,前胸腺中线粒体的形态变化和蜕皮酮合成相关基因的转录水平均与对应时期前胸腺合成蜕皮酮的活力一致。【结论】在变态发育时家蚕不同组织消亡发生的时间不同,虽然前胸腺和脂肪体在化蛹第1天同时出现细胞解离,但是前胸腺直到化蛹第2天都不发生细胞自噬和凋亡,可能与其持续合成蜕皮酮的功能有关。本研究为昆虫幼虫-蛹变态发育时期组织消亡的深入研究提供了理论依据与工作基础。     

化蛹方式及蛹型浅析

蛹 (Pupa)为全变态昆虫生活的第 3个发育阶段 ,大多不食不动 ,体内却进行着变化 ,幼虫原有的组织遭破坏 ,成虫新的组织、器官逐渐长成 ,此过程叫化蛹。1　化蛹1.1　化蛹的方式1)在柱果孔内化蛹 :如梨大食心虫的幼虫老熟后 ,在梨果或苹果的柱果孔内吐丝作羽化蛹。2 )用叶作巢化蛹 :如稻弄蝶的老熟幼虫缀叶、吐丝作巢 ,躲在巢内取食化蛹。3)在茧中化蛹 :蛾类中的家蚕及蝶类中的黄毛白绢蝶的老熟幼虫吐丝作茧 ,化蛹在其中。4 )倒吊化蛹 :常见的如蝶类中的小菜粉蝶的老熟幼虫 ,找到树枝等物体 ,自己吐丝作垫 ,用尾足钩钩倒吊着 ,倒悬化蛹。此蛹…     

家蚕miR-2769靶基因的鉴定及表达分析

【目的】MiRNAs在昆虫变态发育过程中发挥非常重要的作用。对家蚕Bombyx mori miRNAs及靶基因的研究将有助于阐明miRNAs参与调控家蚕变态发育的分子机制。【方法】往家蚕5龄第2天幼虫血淋巴注射蜕皮激素20E后,qRT-PCR检测miR-2769在家蚕脂肪体中的表达;通过生物信息学方法预测家蚕miR-2769的靶基因;利用双荧光酶报告载体系统分析miR-2769与预测靶基因BmE75B的互作;qRT-PCR检测miR-2769及其靶基因BmE75不同剪接体在家蚕不同发育时期(幼虫、蛹和成虫)和幼虫不同组织(头、表皮、丝腺、脂肪体、精巢、卵巢、马氏管、中肠和血淋巴)中的表达量。【结果】研究结果表明,miR-2769可通过与家蚕BmE75B的3′UTR区结合位点的互作,显著抑制荧光素酶报告基因的表达。qRT-PCR结果表明,miR-2769和BmE75A/BmE75B在20E诱导家蚕脂肪体中表达趋势相反。时空表达分析结果表明,miR-2769与BmE75的不同剪接体在家蚕不同发育时期和不同组织中均具有特异性表达特征。在家蚕变态发育的不同阶段,miR-2769和BmE75A的...     

植物中的昆虫变态激素

昆虫在一生中要进行多次蜕皮才能长成成虫,如蚕进行4次蜕皮,然后变态成蛹,再变态成蛾。昆虫的蜕皮受其体内的激素所支配。昆虫头部的咽侧体分泌保幼激素,由胸部的前胸腺分泌蜕皮激素,这两种激素保持平衡即能完成正常发育。     

刺蛾的破茧器

昆虫的羽化是由蛹期转化为成虫期的一个步骤,是昆虫一生中变态的一个重要关键。蛹期呈现静止和不取食状态,但其身体内部进行着剧烈的器官重组和其它生理上的变化。 具有茧的蛹期,当隐成虫发育完成后,如何破茧而出?在各类具茧昆虫中颇不一致:例如在双翅目环裂亚目的隐成虫具有额胞,是一囊状能胀缩的胞膜,可以顶开蛹皮,成虫逸出。鞘翅目、捻翅目(雄虫)、膜翅目利用口器大颚顶破茧壁,成虫脱茧而出。许多种蚤类昆虫头部具有破茧器,可以划破茧壳,使成虫逸出。在鳞翅目昆虫中,可以在丝茧上因     

Bmttv在家蚕翅发育过程中的功能分析

【目的】探析家蚕Bombyx mori糖基转移酶基因Bmttv在家蚕翅发育过程中的功能。【方法】通过RACE克隆家蚕Bmttv的CDS全长序列并进行生物信息学分析；使用qRT-PCR检测Bmttv在家蚕不同发育阶段(5龄幼虫、游走期幼虫、预蛹、蛹和成虫)和5龄幼虫不同组织(表皮、翅原基、精巢、马氏管、气管、丝腺、头、血淋巴、脂肪体和中肠)中的表达量；构建过表达载体，瞬时转染BmE细胞，通过免疫荧光对BmTTV进行亚细胞定位，利用qRT-PCR检测家蚕翅发育关键基因BmHippo,Bmwg,BmDpp,Bmsotv和BmHh的表达量。【结果】成功克隆到家蚕Bmttv的CDS全长序列，长2 228 bp; BmTTV蛋白具有两个特殊结构域，均与硫酸肝素聚糖(heparan sulfate proteoglycans, HSPGs)的合成相关，与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster和智人Homo sapiens TTV的氨基酸序列一致性达45%左右，与鳞翅目昆虫TTV的亲缘关系更近。Bmttv主要在家蚕蛹期开始高量表达，在5龄幼虫中肠、精巢和翅原基中高量表达。BmTTV主要...     

家蚕血液过氧化氢酶活力及其与蚕体抗逆性的关系

家蚕召Bombyx mori(L.)血液过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力随发育时期呈现有规律的动态变化。在幼虫期,CAT活力以龄初、龄末较高,而龄中较低;化蛹后,CAT活力迅速上升,至中期达到峰值,随后迅速下降直至羽化。不同性别间CAT活力均以雄性较高;不同蚕品种间CAT活力有很大差异;饲料对CAT活力有一定影响,人工饲料育蚕CAT活力略大于桑叶育的;高温冲击和氟化物添食都能引起CAT活力的显著变化,但变化的幅度因品种、性别、时期和添食剂量而有所不同。研究认为,家蚕血液CAT活力与其发育变态、体内代谢均具有密切关系,逆境条件下CAT活力变化幅度的大小可以作为家蚕抗逆性强弱的一个重要生理指标。     

Changes in calmodulin levels during development of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Calmodulin levels were measured in various tissues during the larval-adult development of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. In the larval period, calmodulin levels in fat body, midgut and testis were in a range of 0.3–1.7 μg/mg protein and remained almost constant during larval growth. The silk gland contained a relatively high (0.2 μg/mg protein) level of calmodulin early in the fifth instar which gradually decreased during maturation of the larva. At pupation, testis calmodulin dropped from 1.5 to 1.7 μg/mg protein to about 1 μg/mg, and remained constant thereafter. The most striking change occurred in fat body calmodulin which fell from 0.5 to 0.6 μg/mg in the larval stage to 0.01–0.03 μg/mg during pupal-adult metamorphosis. Midgut calmodulin levels were unchanged at pupation and remained constant during pupal-adult development.When expressed on per g wet weight basis, calmodulin levels in silkworm tissues were comparable to mammalian tissue levels. However, only 2–4% of the total calmodulin in silkworm tissues was in a membrane-bound form compared to 20–60% for membrane-bound calmodulin in mammals.     

Structure and activity of salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila gibberosa

In Drosophila gibberosa the maximum secretory output of the salivary glands is in the prepupa rather than in the late third-instar larva. Using salivary chromosome maps provided here we have followed puff patterns from late second-instar larvae through the time of histolysis of the salivary glands 28–32 h after pupariation and find low puff activity correlated with low secretory activity throughout much of the third larval instar. Ecdysteroid-sensitive puffs were not observed at the second larval molt but do appear prior to pupariation initiating an intense cycle of gene activity. The second cycle of ecdysteroid-induced gene activity a day later, at the time of pupation, appears somewhat damped, especially for late puffs. Salivary chromosome maps provided here may also be used to identify homologous loci in fat body, Malpighian, and midgut chromosomes.     

Biochemical characterization of α-amylase of the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps

The α‐amylase in the midgut and salivary glands of Eurygaster integriceps was isolated and characterized. The specific activity of α‐amylase in the midgut was 1.77 U/mg protein and in the salivary glands was 1.65 U/mg protein. Sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis showed that both midgut and salivary glands contain isozymes. Only a trace amount of α‐amylase activity was detected in the first nymphal stage (0.19 U/mg protein), whereas α‐amylase activity was highest in the third nymphal stage (1.21 U/mg protein). The results show that α‐amylase activity in the immature stages increase constantly to the third instar stage. There was no significant difference in enzyme activity between the third, fourth and fifth nymphal stages and adults. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity was determined to be 6.5 and 35°C, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, urea, sodium dodecylsulfate and Mg²⁺, but NaCl and KCl enhanced enzyme activity.     

An in vitro analysis of ecdysteroid-elicited cell death in the prothoracic gland of Manduca sexta

The prothoracic glands of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, secrete the precursor of the insect molting hormone and normally undergo programmed cell death (PCD) during pupal-adult metamorphosis, between days 5 and 6 after pupation. This phenomenon can be elicited prematurely in vitro by the addition of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) to the gland cultures. To induce nuclear condensation in vitro in the glands from day-1 pupae, the effective dose range of 20E is 0.7-7 micrograms/ml and the minimum exposure period is 24 h. Prothoracic glands from different stages of pupal-adult development express different responsiveness to exogenous ecdysteroids. By utilizing terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) and the apoptotic DNA laddering method together with transmission electron microscopy, it has been demonstrated that the ecdysteroid-induced cell death of the prothoracic glands occurs via not only apoptosis but also autophagy, i.e., the induced dying cells show both severe nuclear fragmentation and autophagic vacuole formation, characteristics typical of apoptotic and autophagic cell death. The composite data indicate that ecdysteroids regulate directly both apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms of PCD of the prothoracic glands.     

Cellular metamorphosis. II. The larval labial gland duct and its prospective adult fates in the tobacco hornworm.

The larval labial gland of the sphingid moth, Manduca sexta, produces a viscous secretion, presumably a lubricant, facilitating the burrowing which precedes pupation. During metamorphosis, the gland transforms into a salivary organ, producing an invertase-rich digestive secretion. The single-cell type found in the duct of the larval gland transforms into the four structurally and functionally distinct cell types found in the four sequentially arranged secretory and conductive regions of the adult salivary gland. Surgical experiments were performed to study the prospective fates of different parts of the larval gland. The glands were bisected and one or both fragments were left in situ to undergo metamorphosis. In addition, fragments of the larval gland were implanted in pupal hosts and went through metamorphosis free of their prior attachments. The four linearly arrayed adult regions originate from correspondingly positioned areas in the larval duct.     

Mechanisms of programmed cell death in the midgut and salivary glands from Bradysia hygida (Diptera: Sciaridae) during pupal–adult metamorphosis

Programmed cell death is involved with the degeneration/remodeling of larval tissues and organs during holometabolous development. The midgut is a model to study the types of programmed cell death associated with metamorphosis because its structure while degenerating is a substrate for the formation of the adult organ. Another model is the salivary glands from dipteran because their elimination involves different cell death modes. This study aimed to investigate the models of programmed cell death operating during midgut replacement and salivary gland histolysis in Bradysia hygida. We carried out experiments of real‐time observations, morphological analysis, glycogen detection, filamentous‐actin localization, and nuclear acridine orange staining. Our findings allow us to establish that an intact actin cytoskeleton is required for midgut replacement in B. hygida and nuclear condensation and acridine orange staining precede the death of the larval cells. Salivary glands in histolysis present cytoplasmic blebbing, nuclear retraction, and acridine orange staining. This process can be partially reproduced in vitro. We propose that the larval midgut death involves autophagic and apoptotic features and apoptosis is a mechanism involved with salivary gland histolysis.     

Developmental changes in midgut chromosomes of Drosophila gibberosa

In Drosophila gibberosa, differences between midgut and salivary gland chromosomes fall into two categories: tissue-specific band modulations which persist throughout the 90 h developmental period that we studied and tissue-specific puffs. Puffs that are common to both tissues tend to appear earlier in the midgut. Some major early ecdysteroid-induced puffs appear simultaneously in both tissues at the end of the third larval instar; however, the many late puffs that follow in the salivary glands are absent from the midgut. Intense puff activity in the early third larval instar midgut declines at the time of the hormonal pulse that initiates intense gene and secretory activity in salivary glands; the sloughing of midgut cells ensues.     

Programmed cell death in salivary glands of Drosophila arizonae and Drosophila mulleri

Programmed cell death (PCD) in insect metamorphosis assumes a great diversity of morphology and controlling processes that are still not well understood. With the objective of obtaining information about the PCD process, salivary glands of Drosophila arizonae and D. mulleri were studied during larval-pupal development. From the results, it can be concluded that the type of the PCD that occurs in these organs is morphologically typical of apoptosis (formation of apoptotic nuclei, followed by fragmentation into apoptotic bodies). Histolysis happens in both species, between 22 and 23 h after pupation. There were no significant differences between the species studied. Apoptosis does not occur simultaneously in all cells. Cytoplasmic acid phosphatase activity gradually increases during development, suggesting the existence of acid phosphatases that are only expressed during the apoptotic stage. Twenty hours after pupation, salivary glands already show biochemical alterations relative to nuclear permeability such as acidification, possibly due to the fusion of lysosomes with the nucleus a few hours before apoptosis. Autophagy seems to act together with apoptosis and has a secondary role in cell death.