Eclosion hormone activity in developing embryos of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The ultimate timing of hatching in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is controlled by a circadian oscillator. The presence of eclosion hormone in developing embryos of the silkworm is demonstrated. Eclosion hormone activity first becomes detectable in embryos which have developed almost to the stage of the differentiation of the neuroendocrine system. Hormonal activity increases sharply to a maximum level 1 day before hatching and falls by about a half in the newly hatched larvae. Eclosion hormone was partially purified from the pharate first-instar larvae and approx, a 2100-fold purification was achieved. The molecular weight of the embryo eclosion hormone is estimated to be 7000 ～ 9000 Daltons by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-50 (superfine). The role of eclosion hormone on hatching behaviour of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is discussed.     

The crucial role of cyclic GMP in the eclosion hormone mediated signal transduction in the silkworm metamorphoses.

The signal transduction of the peptide, eclosion hormone, in the silkworm Bombyx mori appears to be mediated via the second messenger cyclic GMP throughout their life cycle. Injection of 8-bromo-cGMP induced the ecdysis behavior in pharate adults with similar latency to eclosion hormone-induced ecdysis; the moulting occurred 50-70 min after the injection. The potency of 8Br-cGMP was 10(2) fold higher than that of cGMP and the efficacy was increased by the co-injection of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX. On the other hand, in the silkworm pupal ecdysis the eclosion hormone and also 8Br-cGMP induced the moulting behavior in a dose-dependent manner. The adult development of the ability to respond to 8Br-cGMP took place concomitantly with the response to the eclosion hormone. Both the developmental time courses were shifted by a shift of light and dark cycles. Accordingly, the sensitivities to the peptide and cyclic nucleotide developed correspondently under the light and dark circadian rhythm. Thus throughout the silkworm life cycle, eclosion hormone is effective to trigger the ecdysis behavior and cGMP plays a crucial role as the second messenger in the eclosion hormone-mediated signal transduction.     

Polyoxin N,a New Member of the Polyoxin Family

Eclosion hormone was purified 5,000-fold from the extracts of male adult heads of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The fourteen-step purification procedure consisting of solvent extractions, fractional precipitations and chromatographies afforded a partially purified preparation of eclosion hormone, 1.8 μg of which showed activity in a Bombyx pharate adult. The hormone was inactivated by proteolytic enzymes. The molecular weight of eclosion hormone was estimated to be 8,400 ± 1,000 daltons by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-50.     

Eclosion hormone activity in haemolymph of eclosing silkmoth, Bombyx mori

The presence of eclosion hormone in the haemolymph of eclosing adults of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was demonstrated to provide evidence that the hormone is involved in the induction of eclosion of this insect.The eclosion of the adult occurred within 55–75 min after light-on, when the pupae had been kept under conditions of 16 h light and 8 h dark during adult development. The hormone became detectable in the haemolymph 10–20 min after light-on, followed by eclosion 40 min later. The hormonal activity increased sharply to a maximal level (30 units/ml haemolymph) at 30 min prior to the eclosion and then fell rapidly: detectable eclosion hormone was present in the haemolymph for only 15–20 min. The hormone was partially purified from the haemolymph of eclosing animals and a 400-fold purification was achieved. The preparation was rather stable against heat treatment, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 5,000–10,000 by gel-filtration on a Sephadex G-50 (superfine). The origin of eclosion hormone in the haemolymph is discussed.     

Surface Display of Human Growth Hormone on Bacillus subtilis Spores for Oral Administration

Human growth hormone (hGH) is the major and important hormone component of human being. At present, hGH for clinical uses is mostly produced in Escherichia coli, which requires costly denaturation and refolding to recover functionality. To obtain long-term bioactive hormone, we used hGH as a foreign gene and constructed a recombinant plasmid pJS700-hGH which carries a recombinant gene cotC-hgh with an enterokinase site under the control of cotC promoter. Plasmid pJS700-hGH was transformed into Bacillus subtilis by double crossover and an amylase-inactivated mutant was produced. After spore formation, Western blot and fluorescence immunoassay were used to monitor hGH surface expression on spores. Oral administration to silkworm with spores displaying hGH further showed that the recombinant spores may have potential ability to be digested and absorbed into the silkworm’s hemolymph due to both the resistant characters of spores and the addition of enterokinase site.     

人GDNF在甲醇酵母及家蚕幼虫中的表达

将人胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)基因克隆入酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K中,酶切线性化后电穿孔导入酵母细胞进行整合,经G418筛选得到多拷贝转化子,甲醇诱导表达。将人GDNF基因克隆入昆虫病毒转移载体pBacPAK8中,与线性化Bm-BacPAK6修饰病毒基因组DNA共转染家蚕细胞,经体内重组,筛选到重组病毒。用重组病毒感染家蚕幼虫,5d后收集血淋巴。SDS-PAGE和蛋白质印迹杂交结果证实了酵母培养上清液及家蚕幼虫血淋巴中含有GDNF蛋白。活性研究表明,甲醇酵母及家蚕幼虫表达的GDNF蛋白能促进多巴胺能神经元的存活和突起生长。     

鲤鱼生长激素在毕赤酵母中的表达

 将编码鲤鱼 (Cyprinuscarpio )生长激素 (GH)成熟肽的cDNA克隆到毕赤酵母 (P .pastoris)胞内表达载体pHIL D2中 ,构建重组表达质粒pHIL D2 GH .转化组氨酸缺陷型酵母GS115,获得表达鲤鱼GH的酵母工程菌 .经甲醇诱导 ,SDS PAGE和Western印迹检测表明 ,鲤鱼GH在酵母中得到表达 ,表达产物在胞内以可溶状态存在 ,具有鲤鱼GH的免疫活性 .用诱导后的酵母投喂罗非鱼 ,实验结果证实所构建的工程菌具有明显的促生长作用     

虹鳟生长激素cDNA在酵母中的表达

采用聚合酶链式反应（ Ｐ Ｃ Ｒ） 技术对虹鳟生长激素ｃ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 进行改造。将改造后的基因克隆到含酵母 Ｐ Ｇ Ｋ 启动子的大肠杆菌酵母穿梭质粒ｐ Ｍ Ａ９１ ,转化酿酒酵母 Ｙ３３ ,构建表达鱼生长激素的酵母工程菌 Ｙ３３（ｐ Ｍ Ａｒ Ｇ Ｈ１６） ,并在酵母中获得表达,表达量约占细胞可溶性蛋白总量的３ ％ 。表达产物作为饲料添加剂投喂罗非鱼,具有明显的促进生长作用     

Development of a heat shock inducible and inheritable RNAi system in silkworm

A heat shock inducible and inheritable RNA interference (RNAi) system was developed in the silkworm (Bombyx mori). RNAi transgenic silkworms were generated by injecting silkworm eggs with a piggyBac transposon plasmid carrying RNAi sequence against target gene driven by the Drosophila heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) promoter and the helper plasmid expressing piggyBac transposase. The transgenic EGFP gene and the endogenous eclosion hormone (EH) gene were chosen respectively as the target genes. In the RNAi transgenic silkworms, heat shock at 42 degrees C significantly and specifically reduced the expression of EGFP or EH gene in silkworms according to the corresponding RNAi targeting sequence but not in silkworms with the irrelevant RNAi sequence demonstrating the efficiency and specificity of the RNAi effect. Heat shock in the pupal stage hampered pupal-adult eclosion and reduced egg fertility in EH RNAi transgenic silkworms but not in the wild type or EGFP RNAi transgenic silkworms. The establishment of this heat inducible and inheritable conditional RNA interference system in silkworms provided an approach for the first time to dissect the functions of target genes in silkworms at different stages.     

酵母双杂交筛选与甲状旁腺素1型受体相互作用的蛋白

目的:采用Clontech公司第3套酵母双杂交系统,筛选与甲状旁腺素1型受体(PTH1R)相互作用的蛋白。方法:将全长PTH1R基因克隆到载体pGBKT7作为诱饵,用LiAc介导将诱饵蛋白质粒pGBKT7-PTH1R和人肾cDNA文库质粒转化到酵母菌AH109中,检测Mel1报告基因的表达,并进行相互作用的验证。结果:测序和相互作用验证结果表明SNAPIN在酵母系统中能特异地与PTH1R相互作用;根据对SNAPIN基因的功能分析,其可能与细胞内钙稳态的调控有关。结论:为进一步研究PTH1R促进骨肉瘤进展的机制提供了一定的线索。     

In vivo analysis of the acidic ribosomal proteins BmP1 and BmP2 of the silkworm Bombyx mori in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the silkworm Bombyx mori the ribosomal stalk P-protein family consists of two low MW acidic proteins, BmP1 and BmP2, and of one higher MW protein, BmP0, as shown by electrophoretical and immunoblotting western blot analysis of purified ribosomes. Treatment of ribosomes with alkaline phosphatase followed by electrofocusing shifted the isoelectric points to higher pH, implying phosphorylation of the proteins. The cDNAs encoding BmP1 and BmP2 proteins were constructed and expressed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strains defective in either the endogenous P1 or P2 proteins. The recombinant silkworm proteins could complement the absence of the homologous yeast proteins and were incorporated to the ribosomes of the transformed strains, helping the binding of the remaining endogenous acidic proteins, present in the cytoplasm in different extent. Thus, BmP1 was able to replace YP1alpha, preferentially binding YP2beta to the ribosome, while BmP2 replaced both yeast P2 proteins and induced the binding of both YP1alpha and YP1beta.     

Effect of carotenoid deficiency on photosensitivities in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, was reared aseptically on a synthetic diet with and without β-carotene and the effects of carotenoid and vitamin A deficiency on photosensitivities in larval phototaxis, visual function and adult eclosion were studied.β-Carotene or vitamin A acted as a growth-promoting factor in continuous darkness and under photoperiodic conditions. The deficiency of β-carotene decreased the larval phototactic response as growth proceeded. The offspring larvae from eggs laid by β-carotene-deficient moths also lost the phototactic response, but successive rearing with dietary β-carotene or vitamin A re-established the response. The deficiency of β-carotene caused the loss of the electric response by light stimuli in the ocelli of fifth instar larvae and the compound eyes of adult moths. These results indicate that vitamin A is essential for visual function in the silkworm, as reported in other insects. The lack of carotenoid did not affect the development of the pupae or the specific time of eclosion which is regulated by a photoperiodic condition of pupal stage. This observation suggests that the carotenoid and its derivative are not involved in photoreception for the entrainment of the adult eclosion of the silkworm.     

昆虫保幼激素促进家蚕杆状病毒系统的基因表达

杆状病毒表达载体系统(Baculovirus Expression VecterSvstem,BEVS)的一个最大优点是外源基因的高效表达(Hy-perexpression).但是,不同的外源基因在BEVS系统中的表达水平相差很大,较低的如α-干扰素,表达量为1～5mg/L培养细胞;高的如β-半乳糖苷酶,表达量可达600mg/L培养细胞.外源基因在BEVS系统中表达量受到诸多因素的影响,如细胞的类型与质量,外源基因蛋白的性质,启动子序列的完整性,是否为融合蛋白等[1].如何使外源基因在BEVS系统中高效表达,是近年来该领域中研究最活跃的方向之一.已证实家蚕杆状病毒的表达量受宿主遗传型的影响,最低和最高的遗传型相差达7倍以上[2].林水中等发现家蚕饲料中添食适当浓度的硫酸铜可提高外源基因单位表达量10%左右[3].杆状病毒在复制循环中表现出两种类型:芽生病毒和包涵体病毒,其中芽生病毒引起宿主体内不同组织间的感染,包涵体病毒则引起宿主之间感染[1].杆状病毒基因组中蜕皮激素尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖基转移酶(egt)基因影响激素在宿主体内的平衡[4],egt基因通过糖基化作用使蜕皮激素失活,打破宿主体内的激素平衡,延长幼虫期,以利于病毒的增殖[5].家蚕血淋巴中保幼激素(Juvenile hormone,JH)的滴度同样决定着幼虫发育的进程[6],本文通过体表使用保幼激素,以研究保幼激素对家蚕核型多角体病毒和宿主之间的相互关系及对外源基因表达量的影响.     

Nucleotide sequence of cDNA for the eclosion hormone of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and the expression in a brain.

The cDNAs encoding eclosion hormone (EH) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, were isolated and sequenced. The results showed that the pre-EH molecule contains a 26-amino acid signal peptide and a 62-amino acid mature EH. The deduced amino acid sequence agreed with that previously determined by the peptide analysis. The presence of leucine residue at the carboxyl terminal of EH, which had not been detected directly by the peptide analysis, was proved. Primer extension and Northern hybridization analyses revealed that 0.9 kb mRNA is transcribed and it has a 66-nucleotide non-translated sequence at the 5'-end region. In situ hybridization showed that the EH gene is expressed in two pairs of nuerosecretory cells in the brain of 5th instar larva.     

Purification and Functional Characterization of a Protein: Bombyx mori Human Growth Hormone Like Protein in Silkworm Pupa

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a peptide hormone secreted by eosinophils of the human anterior pituitary, and a regulatory factor for a variety of metabolic pathways. A 30-kD protein from the pupa stage of silkworm was detected by Western blotting and confirmed by immunoprecipitation based on its ability to bind to anti-hGH antibody. This protein, named BmhGH-like protein, was purified from fresh silkworm pupas through low-temperature homogenization, filtration, and centrifugation to remove large impurity particles. The supernatants were precipitated, resuspended, and passed through a molecular sieve. Further purification by affinity chromatography and two-dimensional electrophoresis resulted in pure protein for analysis by MS MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. An alignment with predicted proteins indicated that BmhGH-like protein consisted of two lipoproteins, which we named hGH-L1 and hGH-L2. These proteins belong to the β-trefoil superfamily, with β domains similar to the spatial structure of hGH. Assays with K562 cells demonstrated that these proteins could promote cell division in vitro. To further validate the growth-promoting effects, hGH-L2 was cloned from pupa cDNA to create recombinant silkworm baculovirus vBmNPV-hGH-L2, which was used to infect silkworm BmN cells at low titer. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the protein shortened the G0/G1 phase of the cells, and enabled the cells to rapidly traverse the G1/S phase transition point to enter S phase and promote cell division. Discovery of hGH-like protein in silkworm will once again arouse people’s interest in the potential medicinal value of silkworm and establish the basis for the development of new hormone drugs.     

Eclosion Hormone Stimulates Cyclic GMP Levels in Manduca sexta Nervous Tissue via Arachidonic Acid Metabolism with Little or No Contribution from the Production of Nitric Oxide

The neuropeptide eclosion hormone acts directly on the nervous system of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, to trigger ecdysis behavior at the end of each molt. Previous studies have shown that the action of eclosion hormone is mediated via the intracellular messenger cyclic GMP. In the present study we have investigated the mechanisms involved in the eclosion hormone-stimulated increases in cyclic GMP. No stimulation of guanylate cyclase was seen in homogenized nervous tissue, suggesting that eclosion hormone does not directly stimulate a membrane-bound form of guanylate cyclase. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, N-methylarginine and nitroarginine, had no effect on eclosion hormone-stimulated cyclic GMP levels. By contrast, 4-bromophenacyl bromide, an inhibitor of arachidonic acid release, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism, almost completely abolished the eclosion hormone-stimulated cyclic GMP increase. We hypothesize that eclosion hormone receptors are coupled to a lipase, activation of which causes the release of arachidonic acid. Either the arachidonic acid directly stimulates the soluble guanylate cyclase or further metabolism of arachidonic acid yields compounds that activate guanylate cyclase.     

家蚕保幼激素结合蛋白Bmtol基因的克隆及功能分析

家蚕头部是一个神经中枢和感受的器官,其头部含有触角和感觉毛,感受外界的信号,并将外界信号传送到大脑进行反应。保幼激素主要是由咽侧体合成和分泌的,而保幼激素结合蛋白是保幼激素转运和发挥功能的载体,在昆虫体内具有极其重要的功能。文中通过Silk DB和NCBI数据库筛选并鉴定到一个新的具有保幼激素结合蛋白家族保守结构的蛋白Bm TOL,其编码基因编号为BGIBMGA003404(Gen Bank登录号:KY681053)。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Bm TOL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Bm TOL在头部都是高量表达,且Bmtol基因在起蚕时表达量较高,在5龄和蛹期表达量较低,而在化蛾后表达量又开始上调。免疫组化结果显示Bm TOL蛋白定位在头部的皮层、触角和脑中,推测其可能与头部信息传递有关,为家蚕的生长发育和行为调控提供重要的信息来源。     

狐狸生长激素基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

为制备重组狐狸生长激素(fGH),采用RT-PCR方法,从银狐垂体中扩增fGHcDNA基因,利用SnaBI和NotI位点将fGH基因插入到酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K中α-因子信号肽的下游,构建成fGH基因的酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K/fGH,载体经SalI酶切线性化后,通过电转移将线性化的pPIC9K/fGH转化到组氨酸缺陷型酵母宿主菌GS115中。然后利用不含氨基酸的以葡萄糖为碳源的培养基(MD)和以甲醇为碳源的培养基(MM)筛选出组氨酸His+型和甲醇利用正型(Mut+)酵母重组体,再经G418加压筛选出高拷贝fGH基因的重组酵母,经摇瓶发酵培养和甲醇诱导使fGH进行分泌表达。结果表明本实验扩增的fGH基因序列与GenBank发表的序列基本一致,发酵液经SDS-PAGE和Western blotting检测证明构建的重组酵母能够分泌表达fGH,表达的fGH占发酵液总蛋白的34%,表达量达119mg/L发酵液。     

二色补血草LbDREB基因在酵母中的抗逆性分析

利用酵母表达系统研究了二色补血草的DREB基因（LbDREB）对不同胁迫的抗性。将LbDREB构建到酵母表达载体pYES2中,转化到酿酒酵母INVSc1菌株中,并以转空pYES2质粒的酵母INVSc1（pYES2）作为对照,通过比较两种酵母在不同胁迫下的存活率来研究LbDREB基因对NaCl、KH_2PO_4、Na_2CO_3、NaHCO_3、低温、干旱、CuSO_4和CdCl_2胁迫的抗性。结果表明,LbDREB转化的酵母在各种胁迫下的存活率均明显高于转空pYES2的对照酵母,说明LbDREB基因除了具有传统认为的抗旱、耐盐、抗寒的作用外,还具有抗KH_2PO_4、Na_2CO_3、NaHCO_3、CuSO_4和CdCl_2等胁迫的能力。     

中国家蚕抗菌肽人工合成类CMⅣ基因在甜菜夜蛾虫体中的表达

将人工合成的中国家蚕抗菌肽类CMⅣ基因与抗菌肽信号肽基因连接 ,经EcoRⅠ、HindⅢ双酶切后 ,克隆于pFASTBacⅠ的EcoRⅠ、HindⅢ酶切位点之间 ,得到重组转座载体pFASTBac ABP ,经测序证明阳性克隆正确。将重组转座载体转化HD1 0Bac大肠杆菌 ,得到重组Bacmid ABP。将重组Bacmid转染sf2 1细胞及感染甜菜夜蛾 (Laphygmaexigua)幼虫 ,在培养细胞上清及虫体血淋巴中均测到抗菌活性。经Northernblotting证明感染甜菜夜蛾幼虫中有类CMⅣmRNA的存在。且表达产物在酸性电泳中电泳行为与天然抗菌肽CMⅣ组分相似。为进一步利用昆虫细胞及虫体生产抗菌肽药物打下了基础。