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。

Advances in Hox genes in the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Hox genes play an important role in the mechanism of developmental regulation of insect body plan and the expression of Hox genes shows strict tissue specificity and the programming of embryonic development. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a good representative insect of the order Lepidoptera. The Hox genes have been identified one after another in the silkworm. There is a complex loci of pseudoallelic genes in the silkworm called E complex and its mutant phenotypes are related with the extra markings or the supernumerary legs in the abdominal segments, which may have a close relationship with Hox genes. After the completion of sequencing for the silkworm genome it was found that there are 12 homeobox genes(Bmshx1~Bmshx12) specific for the silkworm in the Hox genes, which shows a unique biological significance of Hox genes. We have analyzed the spatial expression profile of Bmlab and Bmpb in the silkworm based on the B. mori microarray data. Through the research on Hox genes and the mechanism of the establishment of silkworm body plan, it is expected that it may found a theoretical basis for the body plan of other Lepidoptera insects. We reviewed the expression and function of Hox genes and their relationship with E mutants in this article.