The biochemical effects of potassium chloride on the silkworm, （ Bombyx mori L.）

The supplementation with 50, 100 and 150μg/mL potassium chloride to the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori on fat body glycogen, protein, total lipids and haemolymph protein and trehalose were analyzed. The fat body glycogen and protein and haemolymph protein were increased significantly in all the treated groups; whereas fat body total lipids increased only in 100 and 150μg/mL and haemolymph trehalose increased only in 150μg/mL potassium chloride-treated groups when compared with those of the corresponding parameters of the carrier controls.     

Antiapoptotic activity of 30 kDa lipoproteins family from fat body tissue of silkworm,Bombyx mori

The family of 30 kDa lipoproteins (LP1–5) is abundant in silkworm pupa fat body (FB) and hemolymph. One of its members, the 29 kDa protein decreased in concentration from peripheral (PP) FB tissue but was sustained in perivisceral (PV) FB tissue at the time of apoptosis. This study investigated the correlation of the 30 kDa proteins with FB apoptosis. Two protein fractions were purified, a 29 and a 30/31 kDa protein fraction, and they were used to test for activity against actinomycin D‐induced apoptosis in the FB tissues. Concentrations as little as 50 μg/mL of the 29 kDa protein fraction efficiently inhibited apoptosis. Less antiapoptotic activity was detected for the higher MW fraction; DNA fragmentation was observed in FB tissue treated with 50 μg/mL of the 30/31 kDa fraction. The viability of the cells in the 29 kDa protein‐supplemented culture was 40% higher than in the 31 kDa protein‐supplemented culture. However, the 30 kDa lipoproteins were not able to prevent scheduled FB degeneration during silkworm metamorphosis. Thus, it is hypothesized that the antiapoptotic 29 kDa protein needs to be proteolytically degraded by a regulatory mechanism to allow programmed cell death of FB tissue.     

Variations of hydrogen peroxide and catalase expression in Bombyx eggs during diapause initiation and termination

For diapause eggs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, diapause initiation is prevented with hydrochloric acid (HCl) at around 20 h post-oviposition while diapause status is terminated with chilling around 5°C. To investigate whether hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and catalase expression are involved in diapause initiation and termination, the concentration of H(2)O(2), relatively higher levels of catalase mRNA and activity of catalase were compared between (1) 20-h-old diapause eggs and the HCl-treated diapause eggs, and (2) 10-day-old diapause eggs and the 5°C-chilled diapause eggs. Compared to diapause eggs, the HCl-treated eggs had significantly higher H(2)O(2) concentrations (up from approximately 1-3 μmol/g fresh mass to 5-8 μmol/g fresh mass), higher relative level of catalase mRNA (up from 0 to 35.2%) and higher catalase activity (up from 2.51 units/mg protein to 4.97 units/mg protein) at 96 h post-treatment. On the other hand, the 5°C chilling resulted in significant increases of H(2)O(2) concentration (up from 0.79 μmol/g fresh mass to 5.57 μmol/g fresh mass), relative level of catalase mRNA (up from 0 to 71.4%) and catalase activity (up from 0.88 units/mg protein to 3.42 units/mg protein) within 120 days. The results obtained in this work suggest that variations of H(2)O(2) and catalase expression in Bombyx eggs are involved in diapause initiation and termination.     

Patterns of haemolymph vitellogenin and ovarian vitellin in the German cockroach, and the role of Juvenile Hormone

Abstract. The concentrations of fat body and haemolymph vitellogenin and ovarian vitellin during the first gonadotropic cycle of the cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera, Blattellidae) have been studied. For these purposes, a polyclonal antibody against B. germanica vitellogenin and vitellin has been obtained, and an ELISA to quantify these proteins has been developed. Ovarian vitellin levels follow a pattern which parallels those of basal oocyte growth and Juvenile Hormone production by the corpora allata. This suggests that Juvenile Hormone regulates vitellogenin uptake into oocytes. Fat body and haemolymph vitellogenin levels give cyclic and parallel patterns. However, the cycle of Juvenile Hormone appears delayed with respect to that of vitellogenin. We suggest that the production of Juvenile Hormone, although cyclic in profile, does not modulate alone the cycle of vitellogenin. At least a supplementary mechanism, apparently independent of Juvenile Hormone, may be involved in the decline of vitellogenin production at the end of the vitellogenic cycle.     

Clathrin‐dependent endocytosis predominantly mediates protein absorption by fat body from the hemolymph in Bombyx mori

During insect larval–pupal metamorphosis, proteins in the hemolymph are absorbed by the fat body for the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis; however, the type of proteins and how these proteins are internalized into the fat body are unclear. In Bombyx mori, the developmental profiles of total proteins in the hemolymph and fat body showed that hemolymph‐decreased protein bands (55–100 kDa) were in accordance with those protein bands that increased in the fat body. Inhibition of clathrin‐dependent endocytosis predominantly blocked the transportation of 55–100 kDa proteins from the hemolymph into the fat body, which was further verified by RNA interference treatment of Bmclathrin. Six hexamerins were shown to comprise ～90% of the total identified proteins in both the hemolymph and fat body by mass spectrum (MS) analysis. In addition, hemolymph‐specific proteins were mainly involved in material transportation, while fat body‐specific proteins particularly participated in metabolism. In this paper, four hexamerins were found for the first time, and potential proteins absorbed by the fat body from the hemolymph through clathrin‐dependent endocytosis were identified. This study sheds light on the protein absorption mechanism during insect metamorphosis.     

Differences in nutrient uptake between the fat body and embryonic primary cultures of silkworm （Bombyx mori）

Nutrition utilization and by-product formation in cultured insect cells has been investigated in several insect cells and has been of great interest to cell culturists and physiologists. In this research the biochemical changes in embryonic and fat body primary cultures of silkworm, Bombyx mori, have been compared. TC-100 medium supplemented with 10% and 20% FBS was used in embryonic and fat body primary cultures, respectively. Medium was renewed every week and the amount of glucose, uric acid, urea, total protein and alkaline phosphatase were measured in the samples from medium of primary cultures using spectrophotometeric methods. All biochemical macromolecules except uric acid showed significant changes. Glucose decreased in embryonic tissues, while in fat body culture its amount increased. Urea accumulation in embryonic culture was higher than in the fat body cultures. Since urea is a by-product, this accumulation could be due to higher utilization of amino acids. Total protein showed considerable changes and was consumed by embryonic culture more than the fat body＇ s. Alkaline phosphatase showed stronger activity in embryonic cells.     

家蚕滞育性卵盐酸处理的靶物质

酯酶A4（EA4）是家蚕卵的滞育生物钟蛋白质。从家蚕C108品种产下后48 h的滞育性卵和盐酸活化处理卵分离纯化出EA4酶蛋白,使用合成的EA4活性多肽抑制因子PIN（氨基酸结构：SIFMTKQHSQ DDIIQHPLDY VEQQIHQQKQ KLQKQTLN）,研究了PIN对EA4酶蛋白的作用机制。滞育性卵的EA4酶蛋白和PIN在25℃混合24h后,用矩阵辅助激光解吸离子质谱法,检测到了二者的结合体,该结合体在盐酸处理后消失;盐酸活化处理蚕卵的EA4酶蛋白和合成PIN之间没有出现这种结合体。体外25℃,滞育性蚕卵EA4的ATPase特征性活性峰在6.5 h后出现,而盐酸活化处理蚕卵的EA4在1.5 h后出现活性峰值。盐酸处理可能通过解除PIN对EA4的抑制作用,在短时间内激活EA4酶蛋白,从而活化滞育性蚕卵。     

摄入异烟肼对家蚕幼虫体内谷胱甘肽氧化还原循环和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性的影响

为了建立家蚕Bombyx mori的药物筛选和毒性评价模型, 以剂量为2 000 mg/kg的抗结核模药异烟肼饲喂家蚕5龄第3天幼虫后检测其中肠和脂肪体的抗氧化解毒相关代谢的变化。结果表明： 雌蚕中肠组织中, 总谷胱甘肽(GSH+2GSSG)、 还原型谷胱甘肽(reduced glutathione, GSH)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(oxidized glutathione, GSSG)含量均呈现迅速上升再缓慢下降趋势; 谷胱甘肽S 转移酶(glutathione S-transferase, GST)活性升高到较大值后逐渐降低; GSH/GSSG的比值下降表明, 在72 min后中肠组织向氧化态转移。脂肪体组织中, 总谷胱甘肽、 GSH和GSSG含量变化均呈现迅速下降再迅速上升的趋势; GST活性达到最大值后逐渐降低后趋于平稳; GSH/GSSG比值升高表明, 在72 min后脂肪体组织向还原态转移。无论雌蚕还是雄蚕, 总谷胱甘肽、 GSH和GSSG含量以及GST活性均是脂肪体高于中肠。雌蚕的总谷胱甘肽含量、 GSH和GSSG含量高于雄蚕, 但雄蚕的GST活性高于雌性。结果说明, 摄入异烟肼引起了家蚕幼虫体内谷胱甘肽氧化还原状态的改变和酶活性的变化, 在这个过程中脂肪体起主要解毒代谢作用。     

蜕皮激素对家蚕脂肪体中BmATG8蛋白亚细胞定位与细胞核皱缩的调控

【目的】昆虫脂肪体是物质合成代谢、先天免疫的重要器官。ATG8蛋白的亚细胞定位是细胞自噬的主要指标之一,细胞核皱缩是细胞凋亡的形态标记之一,目前家蚕 Bombyx mori 中尚未在蜕皮和变态发育进程中对BmATG8蛋白的细胞生物学变化进行观察。本研究旨在同时检测家蚕脂肪体细胞中BmATG8蛋白亚细胞定位和细胞核皱缩的时空变化,研究蜕皮激素(20E)信号对两者的调控作用。【方法】利用免疫荧光和Hoechst染色方法,分别在家蚕幼虫4龄第2天至预蛹第2天、5龄第2天幼虫注射20E (10 μg/头)后以及对游走期幼虫脂肪体中20E受体基因 usp 进行RNAi后,检测家蚕脂肪体中BmATG8蛋白定位和细胞核形态变化。【结果】在家蚕幼虫蜕皮和幼虫-蛹变态发育时期,BmATG8蛋白高水平存在于脂肪体细胞中,同时细胞核发生皱缩。在正常摄食时期,20E处理(10 μg/头)能够诱导细胞中大量出现BmATG8蛋白且存在于细胞质中并诱导细胞核皱缩。对 usp 基因进行RNAi后,脂肪体细胞内的BmATG8蛋白显著减少,同时细胞核皱缩减弱。【结论】家蚕BmATG8蛋白不仅在幼虫-蛹变态时期细胞质中大量存在,而且在幼虫蜕皮时期也大量表达,与细胞核的皱缩同时出现,BmATG8蛋白在细胞质中的定位与细胞核皱缩两者均受到 20E信号通路的调控。本研究为BmATG8蛋白功能及其调控机制的深入研究提供了重要的科学依据。     

Responses to localized UV-laser irradiation are different between Bombyx and Drosophila eggs

It has been found previously that in the silkworm, Bombyx mori , localized ultra-violet (UV) irradiation of eggs at as early as the fertilization stage could induce cuticle defects in resultant larvae. To compare the responses to the UV irradiation between Bombyx and Drosophila , embryos at various stages were irradiated with a scanning UV-laser microbeam (355 nm) over an area of 1.4–1.6% of the total egg surface. The results revealed that: (i) in Bombyx , embryonic mortality after irradiation was always low and independent of the stage of embryos at irradiation, while in Drosophila , the mortality was high at the cleavage stage and decreased as the development proceeded; (ii) in Bombyx , frequency of defective larvae after the irradiation was always high and independent of the stage of embryos at irradiation, whereas in Drosophila , high defect frequencies could be obtained only when irradiations were performed at or after the syncytial blastoderm stage; (iii) in Bombyx , the hypoderm surrounding the site of defect was always fused together to produce a continuous cuticle, while in Drosophila , the surrounding hypoderm was rarely fused together thus producing a hole in the cuticle; (iv) in Bombyx , the extent of the defects was constant from the fertilization through to the cellularization stage, whereas in Drosophila , the extent of the defects was largest at the cleavage stage and decreased as the development proceeded. These results suggest that there may be differences between the two insects in the mechanisms and/or the timing of embryonic pattern specification.     

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。     

家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕海龟蛋白(Bmtutl)基因表达水平的影响

【目的】本研究旨在阐明家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis感染不同时间对家蚕Bombyx mori幼虫不同组织中家蚕海龟蛋白(Bombyx Turtle, Bmtutl)基因表达水平的影响,为揭示家蚕微孢子虫的侵染机制奠定基础。【方法】利用生物信息学方法对家蚕海龟蛋白3种亚型Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810的序列结构特征进行了分析;利用qPCR检测家蚕微孢子虫感染后12, 24, 48, 72, 96和120 h,家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因表达水平的变化情况。【结果】家蚕海龟蛋白3种亚型的二级结构均主要由无规则卷曲、α螺旋、β转角和延伸链组成,其中无规则卷曲所占比例最高。但是PredictProtein分析发现,Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810之间的蛋白/多核苷酸结合位点存在较大差异。qPCR结果表明,感染家蚕微孢子虫后,家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因的整体表达处于被抑制状态,尤其在脂肪体中最为明显：Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因的表达在家蚕微孢子虫感染家蚕后的72 h开始受到显著抑制,特别是Bmtutl-519基因,其相对表达水平均不到对照的5.0%。【结论】家蚕海龟蛋白这3种亚型的序列结构特征存在较大差异,家蚕微孢子虫感染在一定程度抑制了家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因尤其是Bmtutl-519的表达。结果说明,与其他两种家蚕海龟蛋白亚型相比,Bmtutl-519蛋白可能在家蚕微孢子虫侵染宿主的过程中起主要作用。     

Structure of Bombyx mori chemosensory protein 1 in solution

Chemosensory Proteins (CSPs) represent a family of conserved proteins found in insects that may be involved in chemosensory functions. BmorCSP1 is expressed mainly in antennae and legs of the silkworm moth Bombyx mori and was cloned from antennal cDNA. Here we report the determination of the structure of Bombyx mori CSP1 (BmorCSP1) by NMR. The overall fold of BmorCSP1 is globular and comprises six alpha-helices. These helices span residues 10-14, 17-27, 35-49, 57-72, 75-85, and 92-100. The internal hydrophobic sides of the helices are formed mostly by leucine and isoleucine residues and, therefore, well suited to constitute a binding site for hydrophobic ligands.     

家蚕丙氨酸转氨酶的纯化与鉴定

应用细胞匀浆,硫酸铵分段盐析,DEAE-纤维素柱层析和羟基磷灰石柱层析等方法,从家蚕后部丝腺中成功地分离制备了高纯度的丙氨酸转氨酶,经聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析鉴定,本法制备的丙氨酸转氨酶已达到均一的纯度。     

中国野桑蚕遗传多样性的AFLP分析

采用AFLP技术对我国具有代表性的7个省市的10个野桑蚕(Bombyx mandarina)种群和2个家蚕（Bombyx mori)品种的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果表明：杭州、陕西和重庆3个地区的野桑蚕种群间及种群内个体间的遗传距离都比家蚕品种大。野桑蚕存在广泛的变异,7个省市的10个野桑蚕种群之间的遗传距离为0．164－0．444（平均值为0．3826）,平均杂合度为0．7061,表明野桑蚕自然群体的遗传多样性十分丰富。     

Occurrence of an active regulatory mechanism of protein synthesis during starvation and refeeding in Bombyx mori fat body.

The origin of the amino acids which participate in protein synthesis at the recovery from starvation have been determined in the fat body from Bombyx mori larvae. Endogeneous amino acids have been labelled with [3H] leucine and ingested ones with [14C] leucine, allowing their discrimination in the organism. 22 minutes after refeeding, proteosynthetic activity of the fat body, estimated by the polysome level, is increased 2.5 fold. Endogeneous leucine represents more than 90 p. cent of the leucine present in nascent polypeptides. Free leucine pools of the fat body and of hemolymph increase, mainly through the release of endogeneous leucine. It is therefore concluded that refeeding with amino acids induces the production of a signal or critical factor, responsible for the increase in proteosynthetic activity in the fat body.     

Effects of overexpression and inhibited expression of thymosin,an actin‐interacting protein from Bombyx mori,on BmNPV proliferation and replication

Previous study showed that exogenously applied recombinant thymosin from Bombyx mori (BmTHY) reduces B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) proliferation in silkworm. Which stands to reason that BmTHY in B. mori is crucial for the defense against BmNPV. However, little is known about the effect of endogenously overexpressed or repressed BmTHY on B. mori resistance to virus infection. To study this issue, we constructed an overexpression and inhibited expression systems of BmTHY in BmN cells. The viral titer and the analysis from the quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that overexpression of BmTHY decreased the copies of BmNPV gene gp41, which goes over to inhibit the proliferation of BmNPV in BmN cells, while the inhibited expression of BmTHY significantly enhanced viral proliferation in infected BmN cells. These results indicated that endogenous BmTHY can inhibit BmNPV proliferation and replication in infected BmN cells. Furthermore, Co‐IP showed that BmTHY could bind to actin in BmN cells. Also, the overexpression or inhibited expression of BmTHY shifted the ratio of F/G‐actin in infected BmN cells. Lastly, the BmTHY, an actin‐interacting protein, might be one of the key host factors against BmNPV, which inhibits viral proliferation and replication in BmN cells.     

Biosynthesis,purification, and characterization of Aedes aegypti vitellin and vitellogenin

Vitellin, the major egg yolk protein, and vitellogenin, the hemolymph precursor of egg yolk protein, have been purified to apparent homogeneity from the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The purification procedure included chromatography on ion exchange, hydrophobic, and gel filtration columns. Vitellin and vitellogenin have a similar molecular weight (M_r 300,000) on gel filtration columns. However, the molecular weights of vitellin and vitellogenin, as determined from SDS electrophoresis, were 393,000 and 337,000, respectively. Vitellin in sodium dodecyl sulfate released six subunits of molecular weight 116,000, 83,000, 75,000, 54,000, 36,000, and 29,000, whereas vitellogenin released only three subunits (155,000, 120,000, and 62,000). The average molecular weights of vitellin and vitellogenin after gel filtration and SDS electrophoresis were 346,000 and 318,000, respectively. Vitellin has a high content of aspartic acid and glutamic acid, and a low content of histidine, methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan. Vitellin also contains 0.9% mol of glucosamine and no galactosamine. The isoelectric points of vitellin and vitellogenin are at pH 6.4 and 6.3, respectively. Aedes aegypti fat bodies incubated for short intervals in tissue culture medium in the presence of [³H]valine showed incorporation by radio-immunoprecipitation and SDS electrophoresis into three primary vitellogenin polypeptides of molecular weights (± SEM) 156,000 ± 4,000, 114,000 ± 5,000, and 62,000 ± 400 inside the fat body and 162,000 ± 3,000, 118,200 ± 2,000, and 63,000 ± 300 in the medium. These results suggest that the molecular weight of vitellogenin synthesized inside the fat body (M_r 332,000) remains unchanged when secreted into the hemolymph (M_r 343,000). The three vitellogenin subunits are processed by the ovary into six subunits which are then deposited in the yolk granules as vitellin.     

家蚕卵显微注射操作对蚕卵孵化及畸形蚕发生的影响

早期胚胎显微注射是目前获得转基因家蚕Bombyx mori的主要途径。显微注射操作对蚕卵的损伤导致注射后的蚕卵孵化率降低, 是家蚕转基因工作的主要障碍之一。本研究对不同卵龄的蚕卵进行了开孔或注射实验, 并对产后5 h的蚕卵上背侧、 腹侧、 前极、 后极和中央等5个不同的位置进行了开孔实验, 调查了卵孵化率和体形异常蚕的产生情况。结果表明： 较早卵龄期的注射或从蚕卵背侧的注射可以获得高的孵化率。腹侧注射产生大量的体形异常蚕而背侧注射的蚕完全正常。通过调整注射时期和注射位置避开上述影响可以减少死卵和畸形蚕, 提高孵化率。本研究为改进家蚕转基因操作技术提供了有效的参考。