Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryoma Tsuchiya, Aino Kaneshima, Masakazu Kobayashi, Maki Yamazaki, Yoko Takasu, Hideki Sezutsu, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Akira Mizoguchi, Kunihiro Shiomi
Summary: Diapause is a major developmental switch in insects evolved as a survival strategy under unfavorable environmental conditions. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, diapause is transgenerationally induced as a maternal effect, with progeny diapause determined by the mother's embryonic environmental temperature. The molecular mechanisms of diapause induction involve a hierarchical pathway regulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and corazonin signaling systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Lijuan Chen, Zhongjie Zhang, Kai Chen, Ye Yu, Bo Hu, Hongsheng Song, Xiaojing Liu
Summary: This study investigates the expression pattern of diapause hormone (DH) receptor in silkworm pupae and analyzes gene expression profile in the ovaries after DH injection. The results show that differentially expressed genes related to hormone signaling, cellular detoxification, ribosomal proteins, lipid metabolism, and epigenetic modifications are identified. The study provides valuable insights into gene expression variation during the early phase of DH release in silkworm.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hyeong-Seok Kang, Ji Hye Park, Joong-Hyuck Auh
Summary: This study investigated the effects and active compounds of silkworm pupae on C2C12 muscle differentiation. The protein of silkworm pupae was extracted using sonication after defatting with hexane. The silkworm pupae protein hydrolysate effectively promoted C2C12 myogenic differentiation without cytotoxicity.
Review
Physiology
Wenmei Wu, Luobin Lin, Yuntao Zhao, Huaqin Li, Rongxin Zhang
Summary: This article discusses the importance of post-translational modifications in the regulation of autophagy in insects, including Bombyx mori and Drosophila melanogaster. A deeper understanding of the biological significance of post-translational modifications in autophagy machinery provides new opportunities for autophagy intervention strategies and reveals their potential roles in development, cell differentiation, and the process of learning and memory in both insects and mammals.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Xiaojing Liu, Zhongjie Zhang, Bo Hu, Kai Chen, Ye Yu, Hui Xiang, Anjiang Tan
Summary: In this study, we characterized the brain cell repertoire of larval and adult silkworm using single-cell transcriptomics. We identified different cell types and their proportions in the brain, and found a significant increase in glial cells during the transition from larva to adult. Interestingly, silkworms have a lower proportion of mushroom body kenyon cells compared to flies and ants.
Article
Biology
Wen-Zhao Cui, Jian-Feng Qiu, Tai-Ming Dai, Zhuo Chen, Jiang-Lan Li, Kai Liu, Yu-Jun Wang, Yang-Hu Sima, Shi-Qing Xu
Summary: Diapause in insects is a developmental transition regulated by the circadian clock system and endocrine system. This study focused on a mutant silkmoth with the Period gene knocked out, which altered the classic diapause pathway and disrupted the predetermined effects of temperature and photoperiod on diapause determination. The impaired circadian clock system in the mutant resulted in up-regulation of the GABA receptor gene, leading to a cascade effect that ultimately reduced the diapause-inducing effect of diapause hormone.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hisashi Tobita, Takashi Kiuchi
Summary: Diapause, an important trait for insects' survival, is determined by the photoperiod which controls the timing of diapause induction. In the silkworm, maternal conditions and core clock genes like period play a crucial role in the regulation of photoperiodic diapause. Knocking out clock genes disrupt normal feedback loops and affect the ability of female moths to induce diapause in response to photoperiod.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Feifei Ren, Jiming Yan, Xiong Wang, Yukai Xie, Nan Guo, Luc Swevers, Jingchen Sun
Summary: In this study, RNA-seq analysis of the silkworm midgut after BmCPV1 infection identified 2520 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation showed that the DEGs predominantly functioned in binding, cell, and cellular processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotation revealed that the DEGs were mainly distributed in global and overview metabolism maps, translation, and signal transduction. Experimental validation confirmed that BmPGRP-S5 acts as a proviral host factor for BmCPV1 infection.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ivana Daubnerova, Ladislav Roller, Honoo Satake, Chen Zhang, Young-Joon Kim, Dusan Zitnan
Summary: Insect ecdysis triggering hormones act on specific neurons in the central nervous system to activate the ecdysis sequence, with different ETH receptor subtypes showing distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns in the CNS to control various stages of the ecdysis process.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Yang Yu, Tian Li, Meiwei Guo, Rong Xiong, Dongshen Yan, Ping Chen
Summary: This study established BmFAMeT6 overexpression and knockout strains in insects and revealed the direct role of FAMeT in regulating insect JH titers and the relationship between farnesoic acid and JH synthesis. It provides a new perspective for understanding JH synthesis and regulation in silkworms and other insects.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Tatyana David-Birman, Alon Romano, Aseel Aga, Dafna Pascoviche, Maya Davidovich-Pinhas, Uri Lesmes
Summary: Food fortification with silkworm pupae flour can improve the techno-functional properties of ice cream while affecting its texture and visual appeal. Edible insects are a promising, cost-effective, and highly sustainable source of nutrients that can be used in various food matrices.
INNOVATIVE FOOD SCIENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Satoshi Homma, Akihisa Murata, Masato Ikegami, Masakazu Kobayashi, Maki Yamazaki, Kento Ikeda, Takaaki Daimon, Hideharu Numata, Akira Mizoguchi, Kunihiro Shiomi
Summary: This study investigates the roles of circadian clock genes in temperature-dependent diapause induction in the domestic silkworm. The results show that these genes regulate temperature-induced diapause by acting upstream of cerebral GABAergic and diapause hormone signaling pathways. Furthermore, the temporal expression of clock genes differs significantly between wild-type silkworms and TRPA1 knockout mutants during embryonic development. These findings provide target genes for regulating temperature-dependent diapause induction in silkworms.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Shi-Hong Gu, Chien-Hung Chen, Pei-Ling Lin
Summary: The study found that in the embryonic development of Bombyx mori, the protein levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 were higher and the enzymatic activities of tyrosine phosphatases increased, suggesting their association with embryonic development.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Yuichi Egi, Katsuhiko Sakamoto
Summary: This study aimed to identify genes involved in programming diapause in the next generation of bivoltine silkworms. The analysis revealed that Jhamt and Pcft genes were more abundant in the brains of producers of diapause eggs, and knockdown of these genes significantly decreased the incidence of diapause in the next generation. These findings suggest that Jhamt and Pcft play a key role in programming diapause in the silkworm brain.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen-peng Kai, Yanwei Qiu, Xue-wei Zhang, Shan-shan Chen
Summary: This study found that certain fragrance compounds had no acute toxicity for silkworms, but could exhibit chronic and lethal toxicity with prolonged exposure, affecting the insect endocrine system and leading to abnormal growth. Further research on the environmental impact of residual fragrance compounds on insects is warranted.