Distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In order to investigate the distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a genomic library was first screened with cecropin B cDNA as a probe. Eighteen out of 275 positive clones were selected at random and SalI digestion patterns were compared. Ten clones which showed different patterns were further analyzed by Southern blotting using a cecropin B cDNA fragment encoding exon 1, exon 2 or the entire coding region as probes. The same SalI digested genomic clones were hybridized with a Bm1 probe. Comparison of positive patterns hybridized with the Bm1 probe to those hybridized with the cecropin B probes indicated that all cecropin B-fragments except one fragment had Bm1. The exceptional fragment contained exon 2 only. The results indicate that Bm1 is widely distributed in cecropin B genes.     

Biochemical properties of fat body DNA of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Some properties of DNA, especially of pupal fat body of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, were studied. Pupal fat body DNA was separated into at least three components called -DNA, β₁-DNA, and β₂-DNA on methylated albumin kieselguhr (MAK) column chromatography. All of these classes of DNA were demonstrated to be pure DNA, neither contaminated nor hybridized with RNA, by their being positive to the diphenylamine reaction, sensitive to DNase, resistant to RNase, and incorporating thymidine-6-³H but not uridine-5-³H. The GC contents calculated from T_m values were around 38 per cent for all of these three components, almost coinciding with that of bulk DNA. But the molecular weight of -DNA, roughly calculated from the sedimentation coefficient on a sucrose density gradient centrifugation was several-fold larger than that of β₁-DNA.

In the pupal stage, fat body DNA was mainly composed of β₁- and β₂-DNA with a minor amount of -DNA, while in larval stage, it consisted only of -DNA. Larval fat body type DNA was observed in the larval silk gland, and in pupal and/or pharate adult tissues like the integument, muscles, and gonads. On the other hand, pupal fat body type DNA was detected in the tissues destined to degenerate or in the process of degeneration, such as pupal silk gland and midgut. These facts indicate that β₁- and β₂-DNA may be the degradation products of -DNA.     

Purification and partial amino acid sequence of initiatorin, a prostatic endopeptidase of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

We have purified initiatorin, a prostatic endopeptidase that initiates the protein-arginine degradation cascade in the spermatophore of Bombyx mori. Purification of the enzyme from spermatophores was monitored by measuring BAEE (N-benzoyl- -arginine-ethyl ester) hydrolyzing activity. Spermatophores were used as a source for this enzyme. Of several isoforms the major form (MW, 29 kDa) was purified over 200-fold. The N-terminal sequence of initiatorin showed strong homology with those of serine-type of endopeptidases.     

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.     

家蚕保幼激素结合蛋白Bmtol基因的克隆及表达分析

目的:克隆获得家蚕(Bombyx mori)Bmtol基因序列,并对其蛋白结构进行预测,分析其在组织和JHA处理后头部的表达差异,为该基因的功能研究提供参考。方法:以家蚕的全组织c DNA为模板利用RT-PCR技术扩增和克隆获得Bmtol基因c DNA全长序列,并提交至Gen Bank数据库;利用多种生物信息学软件预测分析其编码蛋白的理化特性和结构特征;采用MREGA5.0软件中的邻接法(neighbor-joining,NJ)构建Bm TOL及其它昆虫同源TO的进化树;通过q PCR技术分析Bmtol基因在5龄3天家蚕不同组织的表达情况,及JHA处理5龄蚕后在0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h家蚕头部的表达情况。结果:克隆获得了家蚕Bmtol基因的c DNA序列(Gen Bank登录号KY681053),Bmtol基因的开放阅读框(ORF)长度为759 bp,编码252个氨基酸,预测其蛋白分子量为27.72k Da,理论等电点为6.16,有信号肽,无跨膜结构,且第25~251位氨基酸之间存在一个保幼激素结合蛋白家族JHBP保守结构域;N端为疏水区域,可能与保幼激素结合蛋白的核心部位有关。亚细胞定位分析表明,Bm TOL属于分泌型蛋白,主要集中在内质网-高尔基体-质膜分泌途径上。Bm TOL蛋白具有3个α螺旋,第34位的Cys和第44位Cys形成一个二硫键链接在α1螺旋和N末端,构成Bm TOL蛋白与配体结合的核心部位。序列比对结果显示,家蚕Bm TOL序列与其他昆虫TO的氨基酸序列一致性差别较大。家蚕Bm TOL与果蝇Dm TO的相似性为25.10%,与烟草天蛾的相似性为19.69%,与冈比亚按蚊的相似性为25.78%,与埃及伊蚊的相似性为23.53%,与黑花蝇的相似性为28.17%,与意大利蜜蜂的相似性为23.05%,与苹浅褐卷蛾的相似性为21.18%。系统进化树分析表明,所有选用昆虫TO形成两个大的分支:苹浅褐卷蛾Ep TO1、烟草天蛾Ms TO、意大利蜜蜂Am TOL、果蝇Dm TO和黑花蝇Pr TOL聚为一个分支,埃及伊蚊Aa TO、冈比亚按蚊Ag TOL-2和家蚕Bm TOL聚为另一大分支。q PCR结果显示,Bmtol基因在家蚕头部、表皮和精巢有较高表达,其他组织表达量很低或没有。在JHA处理的5龄家蚕的头部,Bmtol基因在处理后0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h的表达量差异不明显。结论:Bm TOL蛋白属于JHBP家族,具有JHBP家族的典型结构;组织表达谱和JHA处理结果暗示,Bm TOL属保幼激素结合蛋白(JHBP),在家蚕中除保幼激素结合之外还参与其他多种生理功能。     

Smt3 is required for the immune response of silkworm, Bombyx mori

SUMO works in a similar way as ubiquitin to alter the biological properties of a target protein by conjugation. The homologous gene of SUMO named BmSmt3 was identified for the first time in silkworm. The expression of BmSmt3 was enhanced in the fat body of silkworm after immune challenge. However, the expression of BmSmt3 after immune challenge was almost invariant in silk gland, which is the nonimmune organ in silkworm. In addition, the expression of BmRelA and CecropinB1 was decreased significantly in pupae after the BmSmt3 was knocked down in vivo. According to our results, BmSmt3 might participate in the immune response through regulating the expression of BmRelA gene, which can further regulate the expression of antibacterial peptide subsequently in silkworm.     

cDNA cloning and gene expression of cecropin D, an antibacterial protein in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a cecropin D precursor from the fat body of Bombyx mori larvae immunized with bacteria by means of differential display. The cDNA contains 298 bp with a coding region of 183 bp for 61 amino acids plus a termination codon (TAG), a 5′-untranslated region of 36 bp, and a 3′-untranslated region of 79 bp including the poly(A) tail. There is a polyadenylation signal sequence of AATAAA at position 266, 43 nucleotides downstream from the termination codon TAG. The homology of the deduced amino acids is greater to the cecropin D precursor from Hyalophora cecropia (67% identity) than to the precursors of cecropins A and B from B. mori (49% to both). Northern blotting analyses reveal that the gene expression of cecropin D is detectable by 4 h after the bacterial injection and reaches the maximal level at 24 h. That high level is maintained up to 48 h post-immunization. Additionally, the gene is expressed mainly in the fat body and slightly in hemocytes, but it is undetectable in other tissues such as the midgut, the Malpighian tubule and silk gland.     

Ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone changes in Bombyx mori eggs, related to the initiation of diapause

We describe a method for the routine determination of changes in juvenile hormone levels in insect eggs. The hormones are first converted into their diol derivatives, then they are purified from other lipids and separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The radioimmunoassay of the fractions was then determined. The method permits the simultaneous assay of ecdysteroids, and it was used for determining the hormonal changes in Bombyx eggs during the pre-diapause development. Our major finding is that the hormonal content of eggs dramatically increased prior to the initiation of diapause. This hormonal rise included ecdysone, 20-OH-ecdysone and 3 juvenile hormones. The HPLC retention time of the latter corresponded to JH₁ JH₂ and JH₃. Subsequently, the embryos entered diapause and the hormonal content of eggs was reduced to traces of ecdysteroids. These dramatic changes in juvenile hormone levels during early embryogenesis raise a number of issues which are developed in the discussion.     

Induction of anhydrobiosis in fat body tissue from an insect

The larva of the African chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki can withstand complete desiccation. Our previous reports revealed that even when the larva is dehydrated without a brain, it accumulated a great amount of trehalose and successfully went into anhydrobiosis. In this paper we determined the viability after rehydration in tissues from the larvae followed by complete dehydration. Only fat-body tissues that were the main producer of trehalose could be preserved in a dry state at room temperature for an extended period of more than 18 months in a viable form. Thus we have confirmed that the central nervous system is not involved in the induction of anhydrobiosis, even in this complex multicellular organism.     

Ca as second messenger in PTTH-stimulated prothoracic glands of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Measurements of Ca²⁺ influx and [Ca²⁺]_i changes in Fura-2/AM-loaded prothoracic glands (PGs) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, were used to identify Ca²⁺ as the actual second messenger of the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of this insect. Dose-dependent increases of [Ca²⁺]_i in PG cells were recorded in the presence of recombinant PTTH (rPTTH) within 5 minutes. The rPTTH-mediated increases of [Ca²⁺]_i levels were dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺. They were not blocked by the dihydropyridine derivative, nitrendipine, an antagonist of high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca²⁺ channels, and by bepridil, an antagonist of low-voltage-activated (LVA) Ca²⁺ channels. The trivalent cation La³⁺, a non-specific blocker of plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels, eliminated the rPTTH-stimulated increase of [Ca²⁺]_i levels in PG cells and so did amiloride, an inhibitor of T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Incubation of PG cells with thapsigargin resulted in an increase of [Ca²⁺]_i levels, which was also dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺ and was quenched by amiloride, suggesting the existence of store-operated plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels, which can also be inhibited by amiloride. Thapsigargin and rPTTH did not operate independently in stimulating increases of [Ca²⁺]_i levels and one agent’s mediated increase of [Ca²⁺]_i was eliminated in the presence of the other. TMB-8, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca²⁺ release from inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP₃)-sensitive Ca²⁺ stores, blocked the rPTTH-stimulated increases of [Ca²⁺]_i levels, suggesting an involvement of IP₃ in the initiation of the rPTTH signaling cascade, whereas ryanodine did not influence the rPTTH-stimulated increases of [Ca²⁺]_i levels. The combined results indicate the presence of a cross-talk mechanism between the [Ca²⁺]_i levels, filling state of IP₃-sensitive intracellular Ca²⁺ stores and the PTTH-receptor’s-mediated Ca²⁺ influx.     

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.     

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of LIM protein gene homologue from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

LIM protein cDNA, from Bombyx mori that contains an open reading frame of 622 bp encoding 94 amino acids, was identified and characterized. The B. mori LIM protein homologue is classified into group 2 LIM proteins that contain glycine-rich LIM domain. B. mori LIM protein mRNA is up-regulated at late embryogenesis and detected in the mid-gut of 5th instar larvae.     

The mechanism of sex-specific splicing at the doublesex gene is different between Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori

We have previously reported that Bmdsx, a homologue of the sex-determining gene, doublesex (dsx), was found to be sex-specifically expressed in various tissues at larval, pupal, and adult stages in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and was alternatively spliced to yield male- and female-specific mRNAs. To reveal sex-specific differences in splicing patterns of Bmdsx pre-mRNA, the genomic sequence was determined and compared with male- and female-specific Bmdsx cDNA sequences. The open reading frame (ORF) consisted of five exons. Exons 3 and 4 were specifically incorporated into the female type of Bmdsx mRNA. On the other hand, exon 2 was spliced to exon 5 to produce the male type mRNA of Bmdsx. As in the case of Drosophila dsx, the OD2 domain was separated by a female-specific intron into sex-independent and sex-dependent regions. Sex-specific splicing occurred in equivalent positions in the Drosophila dsx gene. However, unlike Drosophila dsx, the female-specific introns showed no weak 3′ splice sites, and the TRA/TRA-2 binding site related sequences were not found in the female-specific exon, nor even in any other regions of the Bmdsx gene. Moreover, an in vitro splicing reaction consisting of HeLa cell nuclear extracts showed that the female-type of Bmdsx mRNA represented the default splicing. These findings suggest that the structural features of the sex-specific splicing patterns of Bmdsx pre-mRNA are similar to those of Drosophila dsx but the regulation of sex-specific alternative splicing of Bmdsx pre-mRNA is different.     

Hormonal control of storage protein synthesis and uptake by the fat body in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The female silkworm, Bombyx mori, rapidly accumulates two storage proteins, that are synthesized by the fat body, in the haemolymph during the feeding stage of the last-larval instar, and then sequesters them from the haemolymph into fat body during the larval-pupal transformation.The rapid synthesis and uptake of storage proteins by the fat body are shown to be induced by allatectomy in the early-penultimate larval instar. A juvenile hormone analogue, methoprene, is highly effective in inhibiting the allatectomy-induced synthesis, and, in a higher dosage, further blocks the uptake. Allatectomy in the late-penultimate larval instar shortly before moulting does not enhance the storage protein synthesis, but causes the uptake to occur two days earlier in the last-larval instar. Injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone is not stimulatory for synthesis of the proteins, but is effective to induce their uptake. Starvation during the early last-larval instar completely blocks the synthesis.From these results, it is suggested that storage protein synthesis is induced in the absence of juvenile hormone by some supplementary stimulus, possibly the supply of nutrient after feeding, and uptake is induced by ecdysteroids after a decline in the juvenile hormone level.     

家蚕肽聚糖识别蛋白L1参与Imd信号通路

【目的】肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition proteins,PGRP)作为一个重要的模式识别受体,在家蚕Bombyx mori的先天免疫中发挥重要的作用。本研究主要探讨家蚕PGRP-L1基因的功能及其所参与的免疫信号通路。【方法】本实验通过RT-PCR扩增获得家蚕PGRP-L1基因。利用微生物诱导实验对5龄起蚕分别注射大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae、枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis和PBS,12 h后取体壁和头部提取RNA,然后采用RT-PCR和凝胶电泳技术测定BmPGRP-L1基因的表达水平;利用RNA干涉实验向5龄起蚕注射PGRP-L1 dsRNA或PBS,6 h后再分别注射3种灭活的微生物或PBS,然后检测家蚕体壁及头部的免疫相关转录因子(Rel,Cactus和Relish)以及家蚕多个抗菌肽(antimicrobial peptides,AMPs)基因(攻击素基因Attacin,Moricin和葛佬素基因Gloverin)的表达情况。【结果】微生物诱导实验显示,注射大肠杆菌的实验组比注射PBS的对照组Bm PGRP-L1基因转录水平显著上调,而注射酿酒酵母和枯草芽孢杆菌的实验组Bm PGRP-L1转录水平没有变化。利用RNAi技术成功敲低Bm PGRP-1表达,对Bm PGRP-L1敲低的5龄起蚕注射灭活的微生物,敲低实验组relish因子表达低于正常对照组,相应地抗菌肽基因的表达也有不同程度的下调。【结论】结果提示,BmPGRP-L1基因参与家蚕对革兰氏阴性菌大肠杆菌的免疫响应;Bm PGRP-L1基因在家蚕的体壁和头中参与Imd信号通路。     

Expression profile of cathepsin B in the fat body of Bombyx mori during metamorphosis

Proteolytic enzymes are involved in insect molting and metamorphosis, and play a vital role in the programmed cell death of obsolete organs. Here we show the expression profile of cathepsin B in the fat body of the silkworm Bombyx mori during development. We also compare the expression profiles of B. mori cathepsins B (BmCatB) and D (BmCatD) during normal development and after RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated inhibition. BmCatB is induced by 20-OH-ecdysone, and is expressed in the fat body of B. mori during molting and the larval–pupal and pupal–adult transformations, where its expression leads to programmed cell death. In particular, BmCatB is highly expressed in the fat body of B. mori during the larval–pupal transformation, and BmCatB RNAi treatment resulted in an arrest of the larval–pupal transformation. RNAi-mediated BmCatB knockdown sustained the expression of BmCatD during the larval–pupal transformation. On the other hand, when BmCatD was inhibited via RNAi, the expression of BmCatB was upregulated. Based on these results, we conclude that BmCatB is involved in the programmed cell death of the fat body during B. mori metamorphosis, and that BmCatB and BmCatD contribute to B. mori metamorphosis.     

Characterization and purification of the biologically active v-sis protein generated in silkworm larvae with the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector system

The v-sis oncogene of simian sarcoma virus encodes a protein which is homologous to the human platelet-derived growth factor B-chain. The biologically active v-sis protein was expressed in silkworm larvae using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector system. The v-sis protein purified from infected silkworm larvae is a 30 kDa disulfide-linked homodimer. Mitogenic activity of the v-sis protein was comparable to that of PDGF and inhibited by the pretreatment with anti-PDGF antibody. These results show that the recombinant v-sis protein is biologically and antigenically related to PDGF.     

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.