家蚕BmChd64基因的克隆与表达定位分析

Chd64是含有钙结合蛋白同源（Calponin homology,CH）结构域的蛋白,在果蝇蜕皮激素与保幼激素信号通路中发挥重要作用。本研究以家蚕Bombyx mori为研究对象,利用PCR克隆了与果蝇Drosophila melanogaster DmChd64同源的BmChd64基因,与表达载体pET-28a连接后,成功获得体外原核表达的BmChd64蛋白,并对其进行了亚细胞定位分析。家蚕BmChd64基因开放阅读框（ORF）的序列为567 bp,编码188个氨基酸,预测分子量大小为20.9 kDa,理论等电点为8.41,编码的蛋白在第27~130个氨基酸处存在CH结构域。同源性比对与进化分析显示,BmChd64与赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum和果蝇的Chd亲缘关系较近。qRT-PCR结果显示,BmChd64在家蚕5龄游走期的不同组织中均有表达,且在翅原基中的表达趋势与家蚕体内蜕皮激素（20-hydroxyecdysone,20E）滴度变化规律一致。亚细胞定位结果显示,BmChd64在细胞核与细胞质中均有分布,细胞核内荧光信号较强,且在细胞核外围较弱,推测细胞质中BmChd64也可入核,最终定位在细胞核中。研究结果表明BmChd64可能主要通过20E信号通路调控翅原基等的变态发育,这为进一步完善20E调控昆虫变态发育的分子机制提供了实验基础。     

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。     

Phosphorylation of Rab proteins from the brain of Bombyx mori

Rab proteins play fundamental roles in the regulation of membrane traffic. Previously, from the brain of Bombyx mori we isolated two cDNA clones (BRab1 and BRab14), each of which encoded a different member of Rab-protein family and was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using an affinity chromatography. In this study, one cDNA clone (BRab8) was isolated from a cDNA library from the brain of B. mori. The recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli and purified. Next, the phosphorylations of these three purified BRab proteins were examined, using mammalian protein kinases in vitro. Protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylated BRab8 and BRab14 proteins. Protein kinase A faintly phosphorylated BRab8 and BRab14 proteins. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase faintly phosphorylated BRab8 protein. Next, brains of B. mori were dissected and homogenized. The homogenate showed a calcium-dependent protein kinase activity of BRab8 and BRab14 proteins. So PKC from the brain of B. mori was partially purified by a sequence of chromatographies on DEAE-Cellulofine and affinity chromatography. This PKC phosphorylated BRab8 and BRab14 proteins. These results suggest that the function of Rab proteins in the brain of B. mori is regulated by calcium-dependent protein kinases.     

Bombyx mori prothoracicostatic peptide inhibits ecdysteroidogenesis in vivo

Bombyx prothoracicostatic peptide (Bom-PTSP) is a brain neuropeptide that has recently been reported to have in vitro inhibitory activity to prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-stimulated ecdysteroid biosynthesis in the prothoracic gland of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. In the present report, Bom-PTSP has been shown to significantly decrease hemolymph ecdysteroid titer in the fifth instar larvae when Bom-PTSP was injected into the fifth instar day 8 silkworm larvae, resulting in significant delay in spinning behavior. This is the first evidence that Bom-PTSP inhibits in vivo ecdysteroidogenesis in the silkworm.     

QTL mapping of economically important traits in Silkworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis>)

A backcrossed population(BC1)was derived from a cross between C1AFLP technique was employed for mapping the QTLs.The QTLs for the whole cocoon weight,cocoon shell weight,ratio of cocoon shell,weight of pupae etc.Were analyzed and 11 QTLs were detected based on the constructed linkage map.Two QTLs for whole cocoon weight were localized on linkage group 6 and 19; three QTLs for cocoon shell weight were localized on linkage group 3,14 and 19; three QTLs for ratio of cocoon shell were localized on the linkage group 2,11and 15,and three QTLs for the weight of pupae were localized on linkage 2,14 and 19.All these have laid an important base for the marker assisted breeding of the silkworm.