Project description:Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism and plays an important role as a physiological antioxidant. In recent years, several different groups have reported a correlation between decreased UA in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and clinical progression and stage of PD. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of decreased UA under oxidative stress. We used our systematic functional annotation pipeline for silkworm genes to identify a novel UA metabolic pathway regulator under oxidative stress in a UA metabolism mutant silkworm Bombyx mori model. Gene expression was measured in 3day of fifth instar larvae of abnormal uric acid synthesis Bombyx mori mutant of op.
Project description:In the silkworm, Bombyx mori, juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) levels are high during the final larval molt (4M) but both absent during the feeding stage of 5th instar (5F), while JH level is low and 20E level is high during the prepupal stage (PP). Fat body is the important organs in insect, we want to find out differentially expressed genes which are respectively regulated by the two hormones. Total RNA from 4th molting,5th feeding and prepupa stages Bombyx fat body were used to generate target cDNA, and then hybridized to 48k Bombyx genome Array Genechips, representing about 23000 characterized genes
Project description:Insect cuticle plays essential roles in multiple physiological functions. During molting and metamorphosis, tremendous changes occur in silkworm cuticles. Silkworm is a model of Lepidoptera insects; however, little is known about the stage expression profiles of genes in cuticles of silkworm. In the present study, we selected 16 developmental stages, ranging from day 1 of the first instar larvae to day 8 of pupae, to perform microarray-based expression profiles. The data told us that various functions and physiological pathways were activated in the cuticle. Moreover, the expression profiles of cuticular protein genes, as the important components of cuticle, were investigated. The current study provides important insights for the functional study of insect cuticle and the regulation of insect cuticular protein genes.
Project description:Background: The growth and development of the posterior silk gland and the biosynthesis of the silk core protein at the fifth larval instar stage of Bombyx mori are of paramount importance for silk production. Results: Here, aided by next-generation sequencing and microarry assay, we profile 1,229 microRNAs (miRNAs), including 728 novel miRNAs and 110 miRNA/miRNA* duplexes, from the posterior silk gland at the fifth larval instar. Target gene prediction yields 14,222 unique target genes from 1,195 miRNAs. Functional categorization classifies the genes into complex pathways that include both cellular and metabolic processes, especially protein synthesis and processing. Conclusion: The enrichment of target genes in the ribosome-related pathway indicates that miRNAs may directly regulate translation. Our findings pave a way for further functional elucidation of these miRNAs in silk production. Sequencing 10 total RNA samples from the posterior silk gland of different strains and developmental stage using Illumina Solexa technology. Four strains of silkworm (Q, B, QB and BQ) with different two development stages (stage 1: fourth instar molting to day 2 of fifth instar; stage 2: fifth instar day 3 to day 8 before spinning, according to our previous genes expression cluster analysis), and two strains (R1 and J1) from entire period (stage 1 + stage 2).
Project description:We identified genes regulated by parasitization of the silkworm Bombyx mori by three tachinid parasitoid species, Exorista japonica, Drino inconspicuoides and Pales pavida, using oligonucleotide microarrays. The numbers of genes and their intensity of expression varied with the species of parasitoid, within silkworm hemocytes and fat body. Bombyx mori hemocyte, silkgland and fat body samples parasitizated by Exorista japonica, Drino inconspicuoides and Pales pavida were prepared. Gene expression was compared in these two groups: control and parasitized.
Project description:We identified genes regulated by parasitization of the silkworm Bombyx mori by three tachinid parasitoid species, Exorista japonica, Drino inconspicuoides and Pales pavida, using oligonucleotide microarrays. The numbers of genes and their intensity of expression varied with the species of parasitoid, within silkworm hemocytes and fat body.
Project description:Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) and other small regulatory RNAs contribute to the modulation of a large number of cellular processes. We sequenced three total RNA libraries prepared from the whole body, and the anterior and posterior silk glands of Bombyx mori, with a view to expanding the repertoire of silkworm miRNAs and exploring transcriptional differences in miRNAs between segments of the silk gland. Results: With the aid of large-scale Solexa sequencing technology, we validated 244 unique miRNA genes, including 191 novel and 53 previously reported genes, corresponding to 309 loci in the silkworm genome. Interestingly, 24 unique miRNAs were widely conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates; 12 unique ones were limited to invertebrates and 33 were confined to insects; whereas the majority of the newly identified miRNAs were silkworm-specific. We identified 21 clusters and 42 paralogs of miRNAs in the silkworm genome. However, sequence tags showed that paralogs or clusters are not prerequisites for coordinated transcription and accumulation. The majority of silkworm-specific miRNAs are located in transposable elements, and display significant differences in abundance between the anterior and posterior silk glands. Conclusions: Conservative analysis revealed that miRNAs serve as phylogenetic markers and function in evolutionary signaling. The newly identified miRNAs greatly enriched the repertoire of insect miRNAs, and provide insights into miRNA evolution, biogenesis, and expression in insects. The differential expression of miRNAs in the anterior and posterior silk glands supports their involvement as new layers in the regulation of the silkworm silk gland. Sequencing three total RNA pools of the whole silkworm body from 5th-instar day-3 larvae, and anterior and posterior silkworm silk glands, using the latest sequencing Solexa technology