Sexual dimorphism in neuronal projections from the antennae of silk moths (Bombyx mori,Antheraea polyphemus) and the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)

Summary The antennal lobe of both sexes of the silk moth Bombyx mori contains 55–60 ventrally located antennal glomeruli; in addition, that of the male contains a dorsal macroglomerular complex (MGC). A group of identifiable glomeruli consisting of two lateral large glomeruli (LLG) and four medial small glomeruli (MSG) is present in both sexes, but the LLG are greatly enlarged in the female. A MGC is also present in the male gypsy moth Lymantria dispar and male giant silk moth Antheraea polyphemus. The MGC in all of these species is organized into 3–4 distinct levels of glomeruli. Antennal sensory fibers were stained by cobalt backfills in B. mori, A. polyphemus, and L. dispar. Most fibers stained from cut long hairs (sensilla trichodea) projected to MGC in males and LLG in both sexes of B. mori. The distribution of fibers in the MGC of B. mori was topographically biased in that a majority of fibers from anterior branches projected medially in MGC while most fibers from posterior branches projected laterally or anteriorly. Terminal arborizations of single fibers were each restricted to a single glomerular level of the MGC. Fibers projecting to the posterior antennal center were frequently stained in cut-hair and control preparations, apparently by uptake of cobalt through intact sensilla on flagellar branches.     

Structure of isolated sensilla and sensory neurons in vitro: Observations on developing silkmoth antennae

Summary By combined enzymatic and mechanical treatment, it was possible to dissociate the sensory epithelium of developing antennae of male Antheraea polyphemus and A. pernyi silkmoths from the stage of separation of the antennal branches up to the early stages of cuticle deposition. Large numbers of entire developing trichoid sensilla were isolated. These are characterized by a large trichogen cell with a long apical, hair-forming process and a large nucleus. A cluster of 2–3 sensory neurons, enclosed by the thecogen cell, is situated in the basal region. The dendrites run past the nucleus of the trichogen cell into the apical process from which they protrude laterally. The nuclei of the tormogen and a 4^th enveloping cell can be distinguished near the base of the prospective hair. After further dissociation, only the neuron clusters remain, still enclosed by their thecogen cell and often attached to the antennal branch nerve via their axons. It is finally possible to disrupt the thecogen cells and the axons, leaving the sensory neurons with inner dendritic segments and axon stumps. The majority of these neurons can be expected to be olfactory.     

Morphogenesis of the antenna of the male silkmoth. Antheraea polyphemus, III. Development of olfactory sensilla and the properties of hair-forming cells

During adult development of the male silkmoth Antheraea polyphemus, the anlagen of olfactory sensilla arise within the first 2 days post-apolysis in the antennal epidermis (stage 1-3). Approximately on the second day, the primary dendrites as well as the axons grow out from the sensory neurons (stage 4). The trichogen cells start to grow apical processes approximately on the third day, and these hair-forming 'sprouts' reach their definite length around the ninth day (stages 5-6). Then the secretion of cuticle begins, the cuticulin layer having formed on day 10 (stage 7a). The primary dendrites are shed, the inner dendritic segments as well as the thecogen cells retract from the prospective hair bases, and the inner tormogen cells degenerate around days 10/11 (stage 7b). The hair shafts of the basiconic sensilla are completed around days 12/13 (stage 7c), and those of the trichoid sensilla around days 14/15 (stage 7d). The trichogen sprouts retract from the hairs after having finished cuticle formation, and the outer dendritic segments grow out into the hairs: in the basiconic sensilla directly through, and in the trichoid sensilla alongside, the sprouts. The trichogen sprouts contain numerous parallel-running microtubules. Besides their cytoskeletal function, these are most probably involved in the transport of membrane vesicles. During the phase of cuticle deposition, large numbers of vesicles are transported anterogradely from the cell bodies into the sprouts, where they fuse with the apical cell membrane and release their electron-dense contents (most probably cuticle precursors) to the outside. As the cuticle grows in thickness, the surface area of the sprouts is reduced by endocytosis of coated vesicles. When finally the sprouts retract from the completed hairs, the number of endocytotic vesicles is further increased and numerous membrane cisterns seem to be transported retrogradely along the microtubules to the cell bodies. Here the membrane material will most probably be used again in the formation of the sensillum lymph cavities. Thus, the trichogen cells are characterized by an intensive membrane recycling. The sensillum lymph cavities develop between days 16-20 (stage 8), mainly via apical invaginations of the trichogen cells. The imago emerges on day 21.     

Utilization of cuticular components ofAntheraea mylitta Drury larvae byPenicillium citrinum Thom.

The major cuticular components of Indian tasar silkworm,Antheraea mylitta Drury, were sequentially extracted and estimated to ascertain preferential utilization of these components for growth by the entomopathogenic fungusPenicillium citrinum Thom. Proteins which constituted 61.64% dry weight of cuticule were found to play a key role in the growth ofP. citrinum whereas lipids (7.15%) and chitin (30.02%) were least involved. Also, this study suggests absence of any mycocidal substance in the cuticle ofA. mylitta.     

Changes in carbohydrates and lipids during embryonic development ofAntheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera)

Changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during embryonic development inAntheraea mylitta were studied. While carbohydrates were metabolized during early embryogenesis, lipids were catabolised at the later stages. A significant increase in both total carbohydrates and glycogen on days 5 and 6 suggested the concurrent occurrence of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis. As the development of the embryo proceeds, both lipids and carbohydrates were utilised, resulting in the increase in the concentration of citrate, pyruvate and lactate.     

密码子优化后的柞蚕溶菌酶在酵母中的表达及活性测定

【目的】提高柞蚕溶菌酶在毕赤酵母中的表达量,对柞蚕溶菌酶活性进行测定。【方法】根据毕赤酵母密码子偏爱性对柞蚕溶菌酶基因进行优化,并在目的基因3′端加上6个组氨酸标签,优化后的基因克隆至表达p PIC9K载体中,并通过电转化的方法导入毕赤酵母GS115中。利用不同浓度梯度的G418进行高拷贝转化子的筛选,经甲醇诱导实现分泌表达。通过硫酸铵盐析、镍柱亲和层析等工艺分离纯化柞蚕溶菌酶,利用琼脂扩散方法测定柞蚕溶菌酶对溶壁微球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌、苍白杆菌及过氧化醋杆菌的抑菌作用,利用比浊法测定酶活大小。【结果】密码子优化后的柞蚕溶菌酶在诱导温度25°C、甲醇量0.75%和p H 7.0条件下实现了最高表达,表达量达到了2.4 g/L,并且纯化后的柞蚕溶菌酶酶活达到23 970 U/mg。【结论】密码子优化后的柞蚕溶菌酶在毕赤酵母中实现了高效表达,纯化后的柞蚕溶菌酶对溶壁微球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草杆菌、大肠杆菌、苍白杆菌及过氧化醋杆菌均有抑菌作用。     

琥珀蚕孵化酶基因AaHE的克隆及启动子活性分析

[目的]琥珀蚕Antheroea assama具有典型的野蚕特征,蚕卵孵化不齐,严重影响琥珀蚕的室内规模化饲养.本研究旨在探究对琥珀蚕卵孵化起关键作用的孵化酶(hatching enzyme)基因及其启动子序列特征,为进一步选择合适的抑制剂或促进剂调节琥珀蚕卵的孵化奠定基础.[方法]采用RACE技术克隆琥珀蚕孵化酶基因...     

柞蚕蛹期灵菌败血病Serratia marcescens C3菌株分离鉴定

以柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)蛹为替代寄主繁殖白蛾周氏啮小蜂(Chouioia cunea)技术在辽宁、北京、天津、上海、河北、山东等地美国白蛾(Hyphantria cunea)的生物防治中发挥了重要作用。利用柞蚕蛹繁殖白蛾周氏啮小蜂时,柞蚕蛹期软化病是繁蜂的主要障碍。通过对利用柞蚕蛹繁蜂时蛹内组织液化后呈粉红色这一未知软化病的典型症状进行病原细菌的分离和纯化,得到C3菌株。经Biolog系统和16S rRNA序列分析,鉴定C3菌株为灵菌(Serratia marcescens),经过柯赫法则检验,确定灵菌C3菌株是导致柞蚕蛹期灵菌败血病的病原菌。描述了繁蜂时柞蚕蛹期灵菌败血病发病期的认别特征。     

柞蚕热休克蛋白70基因的克隆和序列分析

HSP70蛋白是受热等因素刺激后而诱导产生的蛋白质,是热休克蛋白家族中最重要的一员。采用RT-PCR方法克隆了柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)热休克蛋白70基因(HSP70)的ORF序列(GenBank登录号:GU945199),该片段的序列长度为1905bp。生物信息学分析表明,该序列共编码634个氨基酸,预测蛋白的等电点和分子量大小分别为5.62kD和69.5kD。具有HSP70的保守性结构特征,与天蚕(Antheraea yamamai)、家蚕(Bombyx mor)、甘蓝夜蛾(Mamestra brassicae)、棉铃虫(Heliothis viriplaca)、甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)、烟草夜蛾(Manduca sexta1)、膜翅目寄生蜂(Cotesia rubecula)的同源性分别为95.7%、78.5%、76.1%、77.3%、76.6%、74.7%、65.9%。根据它们的一级结构构建了系统进化树,进一步确立了它们之间的亲缘关系。     

A chromosome‐scale genome assembly of Antheraea pernyi (Saturniidae,Lepidoptera)

Antheraea pernyi is a semi‐domesticated lepidopteran insect species valuable to the silk industry, human health, and ecological tourism. Owing to its economic influence and developmental properties, it serves as an ideal model for investigating divergence of the Bombycoidea super family. However, studies on the karyotype evolution and functional genomics of A. pernyi are limited by scarce genomic resource. Here, we applied PacBio sequencing and chromosome structure capture technique to assemble the first high‐quality A. pernyi genome from a single male individual. The genome is 720.67 Mb long with 49 chromosomes and a 13.77‐Mb scaffold N50. Approximately 441.75 Mb, accounting for 60.74% of the genome, was identified as repeats. The genome comprises 21,431 protein‐coding genes, 85.22% of which were functionally annotated. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that A. pernyi diverged from its common ancestor with A. yamamai ~30.3 million years ago, and that chromosome fission contributed to the increased chromosome number. The genome assembled in this work will not only facilitate future research on A. pernyi and related species but also help to progress comparative genomics analyses in Lepidoptera.