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
em 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.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Bombyx
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Regulação da Expressão Gênica
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MicroRNAs
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Seda
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Glândulas Exócrinas
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article