Let-7 microRNA is a critical regulator in controlling the growth and function of silk gland in the silkworm.
RNA Biol
; 17(5): 703-717, 2020 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32019402
ABSTRACT
The silk gland is characterized by high protein synthesis. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling silk gland growth and silk protein synthesis remain undetermined. Here we demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9-based knockdown of let-7 or the whole cluster promoted endoreduplication and enlargement of the silk gland, accompanied by changing silk yield, whereas transgenic overexpression of let-7 led to atrophy and degeneration of the silk gland. Mechanistically, let-7 controls cell growth in the silk gland through coordinating nutrient metabolism processes and energy signalling pathways. Transgenic overexpression of pyruvate carboxylase, a novel target of let-7, resulted in enlargement of the silk glands, which is consistent with the abnormal phenotype of the let-7 knockdown. Overall, our data reveal a previously unknown miRNA-mediated regulation of silk gland growth and physiology and shed light on involvement of let-7 as a critical stabilizer and booster in carbohydrate metabolism, which may have important implications for understanding of the molecular mechanism and physiological function of specialized organs in other species.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bombyx
/
Regulación de la Expresión Génica
/
MicroARNs
/
Seda
/
Glándulas Exocrinas
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
RNA Biol
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article