Evolution of m6A-related genes in insects and the function of METTL3 in silkworm embryonic development.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a key role in many biological processes. However, the function and evolutionary relationship of m6A-related genes in insects remain largely unknown. Here we analysed the phylogeny of m6A-related genes among 207 insect species and found that m6A-related genes are evolutionarily conserved in insects. Subcellular localization experiments of m6A-related proteins in BmN cells confirmed that BmYTHDF3 was localized in the cytoplasm, BmMETTL3, BmMETTL14, and BmYTHDC were localized in the nucleus, and FL2D was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm. We examined the expression patterns of m6A-related genes during the embryonic development of Bombyx mori. To elucidate the function of BmMETTL3 during the embryonic stage, RNA sequencing was performed to measure changes in gene expression in silkworm eggs after BmMETTL3 knockdown, as well as in BmN cells overexpressing BmMETTL3. The global transcriptional pattern showed that knockdown of BmMETTL3 affected multiple cellular processes, including oxidoreductase activity, transcription regulator activity, and the cation binding. In addition, transcriptomic data revealed that many observed DEGs were associated with fundamental metabolic processes, including carbon metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and the citrate cycle. Interestingly, we found that knockdown of BmMETTL3 significantly affected Wnt and Toll/Imd pathways in embryos. Taken together, these results suggest that BmMETTL3 plays an essential role in the embryonic development of B. mori, and deepen our understanding of the function of m6A-related genes in insects.

Imaginal disc growth factor is involved in melanin synthesis and energy metabolism in Bombyx mori.

The imaginal disc growth factor (IDGF), belonging to the glycoside hydrolase 18 family, plays an important role in various physiological processes in insects. However, the detail physiological function of IDGF is still unclear. In this study, transcriptome analysis was performed on the fatbody isolated from staged control and BmIDGF mutant silkworm larvae. Transcriptional profiling revealed that the absence of BmIDGF significantly affected differentially expressed genes involved in tyrosine and purine metabolism, as well as multiple energy metabolism pathways, including glycolysis, galactose, starch, and sucrose metabolism. The interruption of BmIDGF caused similar and specific gene expression changes to male and female fatbody. Furthermore, a genome-scale metabolic network integrating metabolomic and transcriptomic datasets revealed 11 pathways significantly altered at the transcriptional and metabolic levels, including amino acid, carbohydrate, uric acid metabolism pathways, insect hormone biosynthesis, and ABC transporters. In conclusion, this multiomics analysis suggests that IDGF is involved in gene-metabolism interactions, revealing its unique role in melanin synthesis and energy metabolism. This study provides new insights into the physiological function of IDGF in insects.

Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of lipocalin families in Lepidoptera with an emphasis on Bombyx mori.

Lipocalins exhibit functional diversity, including roles in retinol transport, invertebrate cryptic coloration, and stress response. However, genome-wide identification and characterization of lipocalin in the insect lineage have not been thoroughly explored. Here, we found that a lineage-specific expansion of the lipocalin genes in Lepidoptera occurred in large part due to tandem duplication events and several lipocalin genes involving insect coloration were expanded more via tandem duplication in butterflies. A comparative analysis of conserved motifs showed both conservation and divergence of lepidopteran lipocalin family protein structures during evolution. We observe dynamic changes in tissue expression preference of paralogs in Bombyx mori, suggesting differential contribution of paralogs to specific organ functions during evolution. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that lipocalins localize to the cytoplasm, nuclear membrane, or nucleus in BmN cells. Moreover, several lipocalin genes exhibited divergent responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, and 1 lipocalin gene was upregulated by 300 fold in B. mori. These results suggest that lipocalins act as signaling components in defense responses by mediating crosstalk between abiotic and biotic stress responses. This study deepens our understanding of the comprehensive characteristics of lipocalins in insects.

Imaginal disc growth factor maintains cuticle structure and controls melanization in the spot pattern formation of Bombyx mori.

The complex stripes and patterns of insects play key roles in behavior and ecology. However, the fine-scale regulation mechanisms underlying pigment formation and morphological divergence remain largely unelucidated. Here we demonstrated that imaginal disc growth factor (IDGF) maintains cuticle structure and controls melanization in spot pattern formation of Bombyx mori. Moreover, our knockout experiments showed that IDGF is suggested to impact the expression levels of the ecdysone inducible transcription factor E75A and pleiotropic factors apt-like and Toll8/spz3, to further control the melanin metabolism. Furthermore, the untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that BmIDGF significantly affected critical metabolites involved in phenylalanine, beta-alanine, purine, and tyrosine metabolism pathways. Our findings highlighted not only the universal function of IDGF to the maintenance of normal cuticle structure but also an underexplored space in the gene function affecting melanin formation. Therefore, this study furthers our understanding of insect pigment metabolism and melanin pattern polymorphisms.

Identification of a juvenile hormone esterase binding protein gene and its developmental and hormone regulation in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The regulation of the juvenile hormone (JH) titer is critical for insect development. Consequently, both regulators of JH such as juvenile hormone esterase (JHE; EC 3.1.1.1) and the appropriate regulation of these regulators are also critically important for development. To better characterize and understand JHE regulation, we identified a putative JHE binding protein gene named BmJHEBP in Bombyx mori. The full-length cDNA of BmJHEBP is 963 bp and encodes a 243 amino acid polypeptide. Its molecular weight is ∼29 kDa, as confirmed by Western blotting, and transcripts of BmJHEBP were found to be expressed in all tissues. The mRNA level of BmJHEBP in the fat body was high on day 1 of the fifth instar, followed by a decrease from day 2 to day 5; thereafter, the mRNA level increased simultaneously with an increase in the hemolymph ecdysteroid titer. This temporary expression pattern was similar to that of BmJHE in the fat body and of the JHE enzyme activity in the hemolymph. The BmJHEBP level in the fat body of male larvae was slightly higher than that of the fat body in female larvae. Moreover, this protein expression pattern is consistent with the qRT-PCR results. The in vitro fat body culture results indicate that the high titer JH III induced BmJHEBP mRNA expression, while the lower titer exhibited no significant difference at the mRNA level to the group cultivated with DMSO. These studies demonstrate that BmJHEBP might function in JHE transportation and degradation when the JH III titer is high. BmJHEBP was upregulated by 20E cultivation, but this cultivation induced less upregulation and later responses to the JH pulse. Thus, BmJHEBP is regulated by both JH and ecdysone in a balanced manner.

Smt3 is required for the immune response of silkworm, Bombyx mori.

SUMO works in a similar way as ubiquitin to alter the biological properties of a target protein by conjugation. The homologous gene of SUMO named BmSmt3 was identified for the first time in silkworm. The expression of BmSmt3 was enhanced in the fat body of silkworm after immune challenge. However, the expression of BmSmt3 after immune challenge was almost invariant in silk gland, which is the nonimmune organ in silkworm. In addition, the expression of BmRelA and CecropinB1 was decreased significantly in pupae after the BmSmt3 was knocked down in vivo. According to our results, BmSmt3 might participate in the immune response through regulating the expression of BmRelA gene, which can further regulate the expression of antibacterial peptide subsequently in silkworm.

Identification and functional characterization of the Rad23 gene of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Rad23 is an NER (nucleotide excision repair) protein and it plays an important role in the UPP (ubiquitin-proteasome pathway). In the present study, BmRad23 (a homologous gene of Rad23 from Bombyx mori) was cloned and designated as BmRad23. The ORF (open reading frame) of the BmRad23 cDNA encoded deduced 324 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 36.13 kDa and an estimated pI of 4.50. The deduced amino acid sequence of the BmRad23 cDNA revealed several indispensable domains for the function of the Rad23 protein family, such as one UbL (ubiquitin-like) region domain and two UBA (ubiquitin-associated) domains. UV irradiation and treatment with chemical DNA-damaging reagent increased the expression of BmRad23. The BmRad23 gene was expressed in all the examined organs, and elevated expression was observed in testis and ovary. Northern blot and immunoblot analyses showed enhanced expression of BmRad23 after day 3 of the wandering stage in the silk gland. From the present results it is suggested that BmRad23 functions in the UPP during the silkworm metamorphosis as well as participating in the NER when the genetic material is damaged by UV irradiation and other genotoxic stresses.

[The discovery and genetic analysis of dwarf mutation 99CDAM in Brassica napus L].

The plant height of rapeseed varieties has increased more than 20 cm due to wide application of heterosis, which leads to high risk of lodging at late stages of rapeseed development. Using dwarf genes to decrease plant height is an effective approach to resolve the lodging problem. A dwarf mutation 99CDAM with plant height of about 85 cm was discovered from a Brassica napus line which had selfed for many years. The mutation 99CDAM has good characters of early flowering and rich branches, as well as better yield and quality traits, which can be stably inherited, so 99CDAM has important value in Brassica napus breeding. Genetic analysis on reciprocal crosses between 99CDAM with high-stalk lines 2091, 7045 and 7350, and the F2BC1 and F2:3 populations derived from the cross between 2091 with 99CDAM indicated that the genetic model of dwarf genes in 99CDAM was obviously different from what had been reported before. The mutation 99CDAM was controlled by three pairs of recessive dwarf genes and showed a maternal effect..