Project description:Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the most acute infectious diseases in silkworm, which has caused great economic loss in sericulture. Previous study showed that the content of components in mulberry leaves, particularly for moracin N, was increased after UV-B irradiation. In this study, the BmNPV resistance of silkworms reared on UV-B treated and moracin N spreaded mulberry leaves was improved. To uncover the mechanism of enhanced BmNPV resistance, silkworm midguts from UV-B treated mulberry leaves (BUM) and moracin N (BNM) groups were analyzed by SWATH-based proteomic technique. Of note, the abundance of ribosomal proteins in BUM and BNM groups was significantly changed to maintain the synthesis of total protein levels and cell survival. While, cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, calcium ATPase and programmed cell death 4 involved in apoptotic process were up-regulated in BNM group. Expressions of lipase-1, serine protease precursor, Rab1 protein, and histone genes were increased significantly in BNM group. These results suggest that moracin N might be the main active components in UV-B treated mulberry leaves to affect the BmNPV-resistance of silkworm, which could promote apoptotic cell death, enhance the organism immunity, and regulate the intercellular environment of cells in silkworm. It also presents an innovative process to reduce the mortality rate of silkworm infected with BmNPV.
Project description:To characterize the role of the ERI-6/7 helicase in endogenous small RNA pathways in C. elegans, small RNA populations from null alleles of eri-6 and eri-7, and from mutants of known endogenous RNAi pathway factors, eri-1 and ergo-1, were determined by deep sequencing, and compared to wild type.
Project description:Background. Silkworm pupae (SWP) is the main by-product of the sericulture industry with an interesting nutritional profile, especially in terms of proteins. In consideration of its possible use as a food or food ingredient in Western countries, a comparative proteomic experiment has been performed to investigate the differences of the protein profile of male and female SWP reared on mulberry leaves or on an artificial diet. Methods. The nutritional profile of lyophilized SWP in terms of dry matter and ash was evaluated according to the AOAC procedures, the total nitrogen content was determined by a nitrogen analyzer and the SWP gross energy value was measured using an adiabatic calorimetric bomb. The comparative proteomic analysis was performed on male and female SWP reared on mulberry leaves or on the artificial diet. Proteins were separated by Bidimensional Electrophoresis (2DE) and, after a multivariate statistical analysis, the differentially expressed proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS. Results. The comparative proteomic approach highlighted 47 SWP proteins differentially expressed comparing diet and gender. PCA analysis showed that 7 proteins were more effective in discriminating the sex and 5 were more effective in discriminating the diet type. In spite of the above mentioned differences in the SWP protein profile, no strong alteration of the pupa physiological traits have been demonstrated, suggesting a general SWP flexibility to adapt to a well-balanced artificial diet. Differences in lipid transport and metabolism were found among the experimental groups, that might have a relevant effect on the timing, on hormone secretion and, in turn, on insect voltinism. This aspect may also affect silk production, as univoltine strains are the most productive. Although this is a preliminary study, the proteomic data may offer a contribution in understanding also the influence of gender and farming strategy on the allergen profile of B. mori, when used as food or as a food ingredient. Since female silkworm pupae reared on mulberry leaves seemed to contain lower levels of known allergens than those reared in the other experimental conditions, we speculated that these findings may help when farming B. mori for food production purposes. However, these results need to be supported by further characterization of the allergenic potential of B. mori.
Project description:To characterize the role of the ERI-6/7 helicase in endogenous small RNA pathways in C. elegans, small RNA populations from null alleles of eri-6 and eri-7, and from mutants of known endogenous RNAi pathway factors, eri-1 and ergo-1, were determined by deep sequencing, and compared to wild type. Small RNA analysis in wild type and eri-1, ergo-1, eri-6 and eri-7 mutant C. elegans strains.
Project description:ERI-6/7 is a negative regulator of exogenous RNAi, however the function of SOSI-1 has never previously been characterized. We noticed that expression of sosi-1 and eri-6/7 are mutually exclusive. Due to its genomic locus being nested within the eri-6 locus, we hypothesized that sosi-1 could be acting as a regulator of ERI-6/7 function by disrupting eri-6/7 expression upon sensing changes in the production of MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs. Our data confirms that expression of the sosi-1 mRNA is regulated by MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs. In addition, we show here that the expression of the eri-6 and eri-7 pre-mRNAs, and thus the eri-6/7 trans-spliced mRNA, are mis-regulated upon loss of sosi-1-targeting and eri-6[e-f]-targeting MUT-16-dependent 22G siRNAs, suggesting that sosi-1 and eri-6[e-f] act as a feedback sensor for small RNA function.
Project description:The length of internodes is critical in determining the height of the castor plant (Ricinus communis L.), and is closely associated with internode elongation. However, the exact mechanisms underlying internode elongation, particularly in the main stem of the castor plant, remain uncertain. To investigate further, we conducted a study using the dwarf castor variety 071113, comparing it with the homologous high-stalk Zhuansihao as a control. Our research included cytological observation, physiological measurement, transcriptome sequencing, and metabolic determination. By integrating these findings, we discovered that the dwarf 071113 undergoes earlier main stem lignification development and has a more active lignin synthesis pathway in internode intermediate development. The plant hormone IAA also plays a role in this process. Furthermore, potential enzymes and regulators have been identified, including the auxin influx carrier AUX1 LAX, auxin response protein IAA13, ARF3, auxin-responsive protein SAUR50, peroxidase, and EXPs that regulate cell cycle, cell wall synthesis, as well as growth and development, were also. Based on these findings, we developed a model for castor internode elongation and gained a better understanding of the dwarfing mechanism of the 071113 variety. Our work lays a theoretical foundation for the future breeding of dwarf castor varieties.