cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of apolipophorin-IIIs from Bombyx mori and Bombyx mandarina

The cDNA sequence for apolipophorin-III from two strains of Bombyx mori (N4 and P50) and the Japanese and Chinese strains of Bombyx mandarina were determined. Both the cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the four apolipophorin-IIIs were highly similar (95-98%). The four Bombyx sequences also showed significant similarity to the sequence of apolipophorin-III from another lepidopteran, Manduca sexta (83-84%), particularly in the five amphipathic alpha-helices that are proposed to play a critical role in the binding of apolipophorin-III to lipophorin. In the coding region, the nucleotide sequences for the Chinese strain of B. mandarina and the P50 strain of B. mori were identical, supporting the suggestion that P50 is the current strain most closely related to the original domesticated strain. The N4 strain of B. mori is more closely related to these two strains than is the Japanese strain of B. mandarina, suggesting that Japanese strain of B. mandarina separated from the Chinese strain of B. mandarina before domestication of B. mori. Arch.     

家蚕天蚕素cDNA原核表达及抗菌活性检测

采用RT-PCR方法从家蚕Bombyx mori新疆品种新蚕三号组织中扩增天蚕素cDNA片段,回收并克隆至Pmd18-T载体,进行序列分析。基因序列分析结果与已发表的天蚕素B的序列同源性为98%,表明所克隆的新疆家蚕天蚕素cDNA为独特的cDNA片段。将天蚕素基因与Pgex-4T-1融合表达载体中的谷胱甘肽转移酶基因融合,在大肠杆菌中表达, 结果表明经IPTG 诱导30 min后,pGEX-4T-1/天蚕素转化后的大肠杆菌生长明显受到抑制;当诱导210 min 后,大肠杆菌数量又开始增加,逐渐恢复至正常水平。说明天蚕素与谷胱甘肽转移酶基因融合表达后,在IPTG存在的短时间内仍然对原核细胞有较强的抗菌抑杀作用。     

Expression of prophenoloxidase mRNA during silkworm hemocyte development

Two clones encoding different prophenoloxidase isoforms were amplified by polymerase chain reaction of RNA from the hemocytes of an experimental strain of Bombyx mori. The nucleotide sequences of the clones and the deduced amino acid sequences were confirmed to be nearly identical to those of the orthologous clones previously obtained from a commercial race of B. mori. Northern blot hybridization using these clones as probes demonstrated that the prophenoloxidase mRNA in the hemocytes is expressed in a stage-specific manner during the final larval instar and pupal stage, showing a peak one day before pupation in males and on the day of pupation in females. A sexual difference was also observed when the content of prophenoloxidase protein in the hemolymph (including hemocytes) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

Fusion expression of mutated cecropin CMIV in E. coli

A cDNA coding mutated cecropin CMIV from Bombyx mori was synthesized according to its amino acid sequense using E .coli biased codons .The gene was cloned into the fusion expression vector pEZZ318 and was expressed in E .coli HB101.The fusion protein produced was purified by affinity chromatography to yield 26 mg/L fusion product .The anti-bacterial activities of recombinant cecropin CMIV were recovered after cleavage by chemical method.     

Structural features of B family chorion sequences in the silkmoth Bombyx mori, and their evolutionary implications.

Partial protein sequences, and DNA sequences of corresponding cDNA and genomic clones were obtained and analyzed to reveal the primary structural features of major, developmentally middle or late components of the B chorion multigene family in Bombyx mori. Comparisons with other types of sequences confirm and clarify the tripartite domain structure of chorion proteins. Glycine-, leucine- and tyrosine-containing, tandemly repetitive peptides form the bulk of the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal domains ('arms'). Extensive sequence homologies suggest a common evolutionary origin for the amino-terminal arms of some B. mori B sequences and the corresponding portions of members of a different (A) chorion multigene family in Antheraea polyphemus, a distantly related silkmoth.     

Molecular evolution of the cecropin multigene family in silkworm Bombyx mori

Cecropins constitute one of the largest and most potent immune protein families found in insect species with diversified numbers and features. In view of the large number of cecropin proteins existing with much sequence variations among them, an overview of the multigene cecropin family in silkworm Bombyx mori was attempted in this study. Cecropin encodes an inducible 64 residue anti-bacterial peptide and was clustered into two groups; first group viz. A and second group including B, D, E and Enbocin. Cecropin A consisted of two sub-groups located on chromosome number 6 of B.mori genome. Cecropin B consisted of six sub-groups, cecropin D and E of one each and Enbocin of two. The second sub-group formed in tandem array of multigene family locus over a length of 78.62 kb on chromosome number 26 in B.mori genome and was organized in positive as well as opposite orientation. The results indicated that cecropin B genes were organized in a close cluster with the intergenic sequence ranging from 1366 bp to 23526 bp. Interestingly a distantly related cecropin E was also located within the cecropin B multigene locus. Similarly distant members like cecropin D and Enbocin were also located in the 3' region of cecropin B locus. The maximum intergenic region of 23526 bp observed between Cecropin D and Enbocin indicates that the two genes were distantly evolved. The phylogenetic analysis clearly indicates a positive correlation between the clusters and physical location on the chromosome, as the length of the intergenic region plays a major role to create newer cecropin families. EST database analysis suggests that most of the cecropin A members were expressed in the microbial fat body while, the cecropin B was equally expressed in fat body and other target tissues. The signal peptides were conserved in all the twelve paralogous gene sequences.     

Cloning of cDNAs for Cecropins A and B,and Expression of the Genes in the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

cDNA clones coding cecropins A and B were isolated from a cDNA library constructed from the fat body of immunized Bombyx mori larvae. The cloned cDNAs had an open reading frame of 63 amino acids, indicating the primary translated peptides were processed to form mature cecropins of 35 amino acid residues. The homology in the coding regions of cecropins A and B was 73%.

In immunized fat body, the expression of both cecropin A and B genes reached the maximal level 5 h after the injection of soluble peptidoglycan, and the high level was maintained until 9 h after immunization. The cecropin A and B genes were expressed at high levels in fat body and hemocytes, at lower but significant levels in malpighian tube, slightly in midgut, and none in silk gland.     

Distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In order to investigate the distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a genomic library was first screened with cecropin B cDNA as a probe. Eighteen out of 275 positive clones were selected at random and SalI digestion patterns were compared. Ten clones which showed different patterns were further analyzed by Southern blotting using a cecropin B cDNA fragment encoding exon 1, exon 2 or the entire coding region as probes. The same SalI digested genomic clones were hybridized with a Bm1 probe. Comparison of positive patterns hybridized with the Bm1 probe to those hybridized with the cecropin B probes indicated that all cecropin B-fragments except one fragment had Bm1. The exceptional fragment contained exon 2 only. The results indicate that Bm1 is widely distributed in cecropin B genes.     

家蚕P450基因CYP18A1的克隆、序列分析及转录活性

蜕皮激素对昆虫生长、发育和繁殖有重要调控作用,尤其对蜕皮和变态过程。利用GenBank上登录的蜕皮激素C₂₆羟基化酶候选基因CYP18A1的氨基酸序列对家蚕Bombyx mori全基因组数据库进行BLASTP比对,发现了家蚕直向同源基因(ortholog),其完全编码序列经RT-PCR检测和克隆、测序验证后,再以此为信息探针检索家蚕表达序列标签(expressed sequence tags,EST)数据库进行拼接延伸,获得了一条包括5′非翻译区在内的长度为1 737 bp的cDNA序列,验证结果也表明与电子克隆序列完全一致(GenBank登录号为EF421988,P450命名委员会将其命名为CYP18A1)。该基因的开放阅读框为1 623 bp,编码541个氨基酸,含有包括P450s特征结构域在内的所有昆虫P450基因的5个保守结构域,其推定的分子量为61.67 kD,等电点为 8.54。将该基因cDNA序列与家蚕基因组序列进行比对,结果表明该基因具有6个外显子,5个内含子,外显子／内含子边界符合经典的GT-AG规则。同源性分析也发现家蚕CYP18A1与其他昆虫的直向同源基因具有较高相似性。用RT-PCR方法对家蚕主要发育变态时期与组织进行检测,显示出该基因的转录表达不仅具有时空特异性,而且在表达时期上与已报道的蚕体内蜕皮激素含量变化有紧密的一致性。该研究进一步证实了CYP18A1基因与昆虫体内蜕皮激素代谢平衡相关联。     

IN VITRO ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF AN ALKALINE TRYPSIN FROM THE DIGESTIVE JUICE OF Bombyx mori LARVAE AGAINST NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS

Alkaline trypsin protein of molecular mass 25,436 Da purified from the digestive juice of Bombyx mori larvae indicated strong antiviral activity against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) under in vitro conditions. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was determined and the cDNA was cloned based on the amino acid sequence. A homology search of the deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA showed 55% identity with Helicoverpa armigera trypsin and the active site of this protein was completely conserved. Hence, the protein was designated B. mori trypsin (Bmtryp). The results suggest that Bmtryp, an insect digestive enzyme, can be a potential antiviral factor against BmNPV at the initial site of viral infection.     

Primary structure of alanyl-tRNA synthetase and the regulation of its mRNA levels in Bombyx mori.

cDNA clones encoding Bombyx mori alanyl-tRNA synthetase were isolated from a library in lambda gt11 using antibody, synthetic oligonucleotides, and a characterized cDNA as probes. Analysis of the sequence revealed significant homology between the B. mori and Escherichia coli alanyl-tRNA synthetases, particularly in their amino-terminal domains. Northern blot analysis indicated that the mRNA for alanyl-tRNA synthetase is 3.8 kilobase pairs in mRNA isolated from posterior silk gland, middle silk gland, and ovarian tissue. Steady-state levels of alanyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA in the posterior silk gland increased in the first 48 h of the fifth larval instar, decreasing gradually thereafter. In the middle silk gland, alanyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA peaked at 72 h of the fifth larval instar, declining to undetectable levels by 120 h. Genomic Southern blot analysis using a nick-translated cDNA probe revealed hybridization to single fragments when B. mori genomic DNA was digested with various restriction endonucleases.     

中国产家蚕抗菌肽A基因部分序列的测定

从大肠杆菌感染的家蚕蛹提取RNA,用RT-PCR方法扩增未知抗菌肽基因片段,经过克隆测序,获得了蚕抗菌肽A基因的部分片段164 bp,为制备蚕抗菌肽A基因探针,筛选基因文库打下了基础.     

Isolation of cDNA clones coding for humoral lectin of silkworm, Bombyx mori, larvae.

In the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, lectin with hemagglutinating activity against sheep red blood cells increases at larval-larval ecdysis and at spinning stage (Suzuki and Natori, 1983) and is induced by infection with cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus. A Bombyx lectin polypeptide with molecular weight approx 280K is responsible for hemagglutinating activity, since antiserum raised against this polypeptide inhibited hemagglutinating activity. The site of synthesis of Bombyx lectin was determined by primary tissue cultures of fat body and hemocytes. A hemagglutinating activity assay demonstrated that hemocyte is responsible for the release of hemagglutinin into the culture medium. Isolation of cDNA clones coding for Bombyx lectin was carried out on the cDNA library prepared in an expression vector lambda gt11 starting with poly(A)+ RNA from spinning larval hemocytes. As a result of immunoscreening, several positive clones were obtained, and the cDNA clones were characterized.     

Homologues of fibroin L-chain and P25 of Bombyx mori are present in Dendrolimus spectabilis and Papilio xuthus but not detectable in Antheraea yamamai

Low molecular mass protein components of fibroin, whose electrophoretic patterns before and after the reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds were similar to those of L-chain and P25 of Bombyx mori, were identified in fibroin samples of Bombyx mandarina, Dendrolimus spectabilis and Papilio xuthus but not of Antheraea yamamai. Fibroin of A. yamamai is suggested to form a dimer of H-chain. Full length cDNA sequences were cloned for the homologues of L-chain and P25 from B. mandarina, D. spectabilis and P. xuthus. The deduced sequences of L-chain and P25 of B. mandarina are almost identical to those of B. mori, each containing a single amino acid change. Homologues of L-chain and P25 of D. spectabilis and P. xuthus show about 50% overall identity, respectively, with those of B. mori, but essential structural features; i.e. the three Cys residues in an L-chain and the eight Cys residues and one of the potential N-glycosylation sites in P25, are conserved in both species. These results, together with the published results for Galleria mellonella, suggest that the three-components (H-chain, L-chain and P25) complex of fibroin is rather common among Lepidopteran silk-producing insects, in contrast to the H-H dimer type found in the saturnid silkworm.