Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bili Zhang, Chunlin Li, Yue Luan, Yaru Lu, Hai Hu, Yanyu Liu, Kunpeng Lu, Guizheng Zhang, Fangyin Dai, Xiaoling Tong
Summary: In this study, nine HEX genes in Bombyx mori were identified and their distinct expression patterns were analyzed. The chitooligosaccharidolytic beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (BmChiNAG) gene was found to be highly expressed in chitin-rich tissues and played a crucial role in molting and wing development in silkworms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Yi Wang, Yu Fu, Hao Cheng, Chenyue Zhao, Qunxia Huang, Meiling Chang, Wujie Qiu, Yawen Shen, Dandan Li
Summary: Oocyte maturation is crucial for insect reproduction, and vitellogenin production and uptake are key factors for female fecundity. In the silkworm, a lncRNA called lncR26319 regulates Vg endocytosis through competitive binding to miR-2834 and modulation of EndoA expression. The lncR26319-miR-2834-EndoA axis plays a critical role in the normal progression of oogenesis in the silkworm and could be targeted for pest management strategies.
Article
Entomology
Kakeru Yokoi, Takuya Tsubota, Akiya Jouraku, Hideki Sezutsu, Hidemasa Bono
Summary: In this study, reference transcriptome data for the silkworm was established and detailed examination of gene expression in silkworm tissues was performed. The results contribute to understanding silkworm biology and promoting industrial applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kui Zhang, Li Shen, Xue Wang, He Yang, Xiaolin Zhang, Guangzhao Pan, Chongyang Li, Haoyan Ji, Muhammad Nadeem Abbas, Cong Li, Hongjuan Cui
Summary: Scavenger receptor C (SR-C) in the silkworm plays a key role in protecting against bacterial pathogens by enhancing the expression of antimicrobial peptides through the Toll pathway in hemocytes, ultimately improving the survival rate of silkworm larvae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dehong Yang, Jun Xu, Kai Chen, Yujia Liu, Xu Yang, Linmeng Tang, Xingyu Luo, Zulian Liu, Muwang Li, James R. Walters, Yongping Huang
Summary: This study reveals the important role of the gene BmPMFBP1 in the development of nucleated sperm and identifies it as a potential target gene for lepidopteran pest control. Spermatogenesis plays a key role in sexual reproduction, making it a subject of broad interest and importance in molecular genetics research.
Article
Entomology
Peng Chen, Ling Wang, Yan-Bi Long, Guang-Yan Liang, Xiu Yang, Zhan-Qi Dong, Xia Jiang, Yan Zhu, Min-Hui Pan, Cheng Lu
Summary: E2F4 plays a critical role in regulating the cell cycle in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. It can localize in the nucleus through interaction with the Bm14-3-3 zeta protein. These findings provide valuable insights into the function of E2F transcription factors and their involvement in cell cycle regulation.
Article
Entomology
Yanmei Chen, Jiao Lv, Guowei Zu, Fan Yang, Jiasheng Geng, Zhengying You, Caiying Jiang, Qing Sheng, Zuoming Nie
Summary: This study confirms that acetylation can improve the stability of apolipophorin II protein in silkworms, and shows that acetyltransferase CBP can catalyze the acetylation modification of apolipophorin II protein, thus affecting its protein expression and stability.
Article
Entomology
Kohei Kakino, Hiroaki Mon, Takeru Ebihara, Masato Hino, Akitsu Masuda, Jae Man Lee, Takahiro Kusakabe
Summary: This study characterizes the gene expression patterns and function in the testis of Bombyx mori, revealing peculiar features in spermatogenesis. The transcriptome analysis identifies widespread gene expression and testis-specific genes in B. mori, and compares it with Drosophila melanogaster for a better understanding. The study fills a knowledge gap and provides a basis for future research in spermatogenesis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Linrong Wan, Wenfu Xiao, Ziyan Huang, Anlian Zhou, Yaming Jiang, Bangxing Zou, Binbin Liu, Cao Deng, Youhong Zhang
Summary: This article systematically identified and analyzed small open reading frames (smORFs) in the silkworm, finding 738 highly reliable smORFs and 34,401 possible smORFs. It also identified differentially expressed and tissue-specific-expressed smORFs, which may be closely related to tissue characteristics and functions.
Article
Entomology
Tian Li, Gemin Wang, Wei He, Guiqin Li, Chunyang Wang, Jiamei Zhao, Pan Chen, Meiwei Guo, Ping Chen
Summary: In this study, the role of insect immune-associated phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) in melanization in silkworms was investigated. PLA(2) was found to regulate melanization through the modulation of BmDDC protein expression. This study provides new insights into the complex immune networks of insects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lin Ma, Vivian Andoh, Zhongyuan Shen, Haiyan Liu, Long Li, Keping Chen
Summary: This study aimed to explore the long-term effects of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) on silkworms. The results showed that MgO NPs had no significant negative impact on silkworm growth or adult tissues, but altered the expression of genes in the silk gland.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shoumin Sun, Qiqi Chen, Gang Chen, Zhenzhen Chen, Kaiyun Wang, Hongyan Wang
Summary: In this study, a risk assessment of the neonicotinoid insecticide nitenpyram was conducted in relation to its impact on silkworms. The study confirmed the presence of risks when nitenpyram is sprayed around mulberry fields. Additionally, differentially expressed miRNAs and related signaling pathways were identified, indicating the potential mechanism underlying nitenpyram's toxic effect on silkworms. Moreover, nitenpyram was found to induce oxidative damage and upregulate Imd, suggesting its potential impact on the growth and stress response of silkworms.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria Cermeno, Carmen Bascon, Miryam Amigo-Benavent, Manuel Felix, Richard J. FitzGerald
Summary: Silkworm pupae hydrolysates exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with Alcalase and Prolyve hydrolysates having the highest scavenging activities, and Flavourzyme and Brewers Clarex hydrolysates showing enhanced ferric reducing antioxidant power. Peptides SWFVTPF and NDVLFF demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-hao Su, Jun-li Lv, Qi Ou, Zi-qin Zhao, Kai-yi Zheng, Xiao-ying Zhang, Wen-qing Lai, Xue-yang Wang, Ming-jie Deng, Mu-wang Li
Summary: The white epidermis of silkworms is caused by uric acid crystals accumulation. Abnormal metabolism of uric acid reduces its production, resulting in a transparent or translucent phenotype. This study examined the metabolite changes following Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection in two strains of silkworms (p50 and op50) and found that the uric acid pathway plays a critical role in resistance. Feeding with inosine, a metabolite in this pathway, significantly enhanced larval resistance and modulated other metabolic pathways. The results provide insights into the resistance mechanism of silkworms to BmNPV and offer new strategies for pest control.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ze Zhao, Su Lin, Wanming Wu, Zhendong Zhang, Ping Wu, Manman Shen, Heying Qian, Xijie Guo
Summary: This study identified and analyzed miRNAs encoded by BmCPV, a double stranded RNA virus. The results showed that these miRNAs are generated by the viral genome and can modulate the host NF-KB signaling pathway to enhance viral replication.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liang Qiao, Zheng-Wen Yan, Gao Xiong, You-jin Hao, Ri-xin Wang, Hai Hu, Jiang-bo Song, Xiao-ling Tong, Lin-rong Che, Song-zhen He, Bin Chen, James Mallet, Cheng Lu, Fang-yin Dai
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guihua Jiang, Jiangbo Song, Hai Hu, Xiaoling Tong, Fangyin Dai
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Jiang-Bo Song, Kai-Ge Hao, Xin Chen, Yan-Hua Zhang, Zi-Lin Cheng, Shuang Mao, Yong-Xi Tang, Mao-Ling Tong, Fang-Yin Dai
ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Jiang-Wen Luo, Er-Xia An, Ya-Ru Lu, Ling Yang, Ting-Ting Gai, Song-Zhen He, Song-Yuan Wu, Hai Hu, Chun-Lin Li, Cheng Lu, Xiao-Ling Tong, Fang-Yin Dai
Summary: The study revealed the molecular basis of silkworm re(l) mutant formation, identifying two genes that control egg color and embryo mortality, with BmSema1a gene being essential for insect embryo development.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Chunlin Li, Weidong Zuo, Xiaoling Tong, Minjin Han, Rui Gao, Hai Hu, Kunpeng Lu, Yue Luan, Bili Zhang, Yanyu Liu, Fangyin Dai
Summary: Breeding or genetic improvement plays a crucial role in modern agriculture and animal production by focusing on economically important traits. A study on silkworm genetic improvement identified 24 genomic regions with strong selection signals, including genes related to neural signal response, suggesting that improvement may have impacted the nervous system of the silkworm. This research provides new insights into the genetic basis underlying the genetic improvement of silkworms and possibly other species.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Zhan-Feng Ye, Pan Zhang, Ting-Ting Gai, Jing-Hou Lou, Fang-Yin Dai, Xiao-Ling Tong
Summary: The research found that the odd-skipped family genes, including sister of odd and bowl gene, play crucial roles in insect wing morphogenesis, with their loss leading to abnormal wing development and indistinct wing veins.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chunyan Fang, Zhanfeng Ye, Tingting Gai, Kunpeng Lu, Fangyin Dai, Cheng Lu, Xiaoling Tong
Summary: Proteomic analysis of silkworm wings revealed that cuticular proteins and fatty metabolism enzymes are the main abnormally expressed proteins in the pupal wings of the mutant, leading to curly and shrunken wings after moth transformation.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yun-long Zou, Ai-jun Ye, Shuo Liu, Wen-tao Wu, Li-feng Xu, Fang-yin Dai, Xiao-ling Tong
Summary: The study investigated the use of T7 promoter to modify sgRNAs structure for efficient mutagenesis in silkworm. Results showed that sgRNAs with 5' GG mismatches can still induce mutations in vivo, with one sgRNA even outperforming conventional sgRNAs with perfectly matched 5' GG residues. The mutations generated by sgRNAs with 5' GG mismatches are also heritable, allowing for the successful generation of null mutants in the silkworm after one generation.
Article
Entomology
Lulu Liu, Pan Zhang, Qiang Gao, Xiaoge Feng, Lan Han, Fengbin Zhang, Yanmin Bai, Minjin Han, Hai Hu, Fangyin Dai, Gaojun Zhang, Xiaoling Tong
Summary: This study compared the differentially expressed miRNAs in bivoltine silkworm embryos incubated at diapause- and non-diapause-inducing temperatures, revealing that miRNAs respond to temperature changes and play a crucial role in regulating circadian genes during diapause induction. Through transcriptome sequencing and KEGG analysis, the study identified known and novel miRNAs, highlighting their involvement in metabolism, phototransduction, and hormone biosynthesis. The results suggest that microRNAs are important regulators in the diapause induction process across species.
Article
Developmental Biology
Chunyan Fang, Yaqun Xin, Tao Sun, Antonia Monteiro, Zhanfeng Ye, Fangyin Dai, Cheng Lu, Xiaoling Tong
Summary: The long-standing view that insect forewings develop independently of Hox genes is challenged by this study. The researchers show that the Hox gene Antennapedia (Antp) plays a role in wing development in Bombyx, Drosophila, and Tribolium by regulating the expression of specific genes involved in wing growth and cuticle formation.
Article
Entomology
Yun-Long Zou, Xin Ding, Li Zhang, Li-Feng Xu, Shu-Bo Liang, Hai Hu, Fang-Yin Dai, Xiao-Ling Tong
Summary: In this study, the genetic basis and regulatory mechanisms underlying wing size and shape development were investigated through the study of the micropterous mutant in the silkworm and Drosophila. The Bmmp gene responsible for the mp phenotype was identified and found to be functionally conserved in Drosophila. The findings contribute to our understanding of insect wing development mechanisms and provide potential targets for pest control.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhengwen Yan, Xiaoling Tong, Gao Xiong, Weike Yang, Kunpeng Lu, Yajie Yuan, Minjin Han, Hai Hu, Wei Wei, Fangyin Dai
Summary: Insect cuticle plays a critical role in the adaptability of insects to the environment and their resistance to insecticides. This study focused on the structure and protein components of the cuticle at each developmental stage of the silkworm (Bombyx mori). The researchers found that the processes of cuticle formation were similar across the larval, pupal, and adult stages, and a large portion of the expressed cuticular protein (CP) genes were shared among these stages. However, there were also stage-specific CP genes expressed in each cuticle. The types and levels of CP genes may be important factors determining the properties of each cuticular layer. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of cuticle morphology and protein components, and contributes to future research on the molecular mechanisms underlying cuticle formation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaoling Tong, Min-Jin Han, Kunpeng Lu, Shuaishuai Tai, Shubo Liang, Yucheng Liu, Hai Hu, Jianghong Shen, Anxing Long, Chengyu Zhan, Xin Ding, Shuo Liu, Qiang Gao, Bili Zhang, Linli Zhou, Duan Tan, Yajie Yuan, Nangkuo Guo, Yan-Hong Li, Zhangyan Wu, Lulu Liu, Chunlin Li, Yaru Lu, Tingting Gai, Yahui Zhang, Renkui Yang, Heying Qian, Yanqun Liu, Jiangwen Luo, Lu Zheng, Jinghou Lou, Yunwu Peng, Weidong Zuo, Jiangbo Song, Songzhen He, Songyuan Wu, Yunlong Zou, Lei Zhou, Lan Cheng, Yuxia Tang, Guotao Cheng, Lianwei Yuan, Weiming He, Jiabao Xu, Tao Fu, Yang Xiao, Ting Lei, Anying Xu, Ye Yin, Jian Wang, Antonia Monteiro, Eric Westhof, Cheng Lu, Zhixi Tian, Wen Wang, Zhonghuai Xiang, Fangyin Dai
Summary: In this study, a super pangenome assembled from long-read sequences of 545 silkworms is described. The researchers identified sets of genes that were naturally or artificially selected and found a high density of genomic variants in the silkworm population. They also discovered thousands of new genes and structure variations that may contribute to the artificial selection of silkworm for silk production and adaptation. The findings provide valuable genomic resources for functional genomics studies and breeding improvement in silkworm.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Minjin Han, Jianyu Ren, Haipeng Guo, Xiaoling Tong, Hai Hu, Kunpeng Lu, Zongrui Dai, Fangyin Dai
Summary: By studying the mutation rate and spectrum of the domestic silkworm under normal and two temperature stress conditions, it was found that the single-nucleotide mutation rate under normal temperature rearing condition was 1.5-fold higher than in previously studied insects. Moreover, the mutation rates of the silkworm under stress conditions were significantly higher than in normal conditions. Furthermore, the mutation rate varied less in gene regions under normal and temperature stresses. These findings expand the diversity of the mutation rate among eukaryotes and have implications for evolutionary analysis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bili Zhang, Chunlin Li, Yue Luan, Yaru Lu, Hai Hu, Yanyu Liu, Kunpeng Lu, Guizheng Zhang, Fangyin Dai, Xiaoling Tong
Summary: In this study, nine HEX genes in Bombyx mori were identified and their distinct expression patterns were analyzed. The chitooligosaccharidolytic beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (BmChiNAG) gene was found to be highly expressed in chitin-rich tissues and played a crucial role in molting and wing development in silkworms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)