Feeding preference is critical for insect adaptation and survival. However, little known regarding the determination of feeding preference, genetic basis poorly understood. As a model lepidopteran with economic importance, domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, well-known monophagous that predominantly feeds on fresh mulberry leaves. This species-specific provides an excellent investigation host-plant selection insects, although molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown....

Abstract Reproduction, a fundamental feature of all known life, closely correlates with energy homeostasis. The control synthesizing and mobilizing lipids are dynamic well-organized processes to distribute lipid resources across tissues or generations. However, how homeostasis is precisely coordinated during insect reproductive development poorly understood. Here we describe the relations between metabolism reproduction in silkworm, Bombyx mori , lepidopteran model insect, by using...

Significance Insect sex is determined genetically and shows high diversity among different species. The silkworm, Bombyx mori , has a WZ/ZZ chromosome system seen in lepidopteran insects which the females are heterogametic. Sex separation methods critical for commercial aspects of rearing silkworms, genetic-sexing systems also could serve as basis adaptation to sterile insect techniques pest Here, we describe W chromosome-based, combining transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases...

Plants produce various pigments that not only appear as attractive colors but also provide valuable resources in applications daily life and scientific research. Biosynthesis pathways for these natural plant are well studied, most have multiple enzymes vary among species. However, adapting to animals remains a challenge. Here, we describe successful biosynthesis of betalains, water-soluble found single order, Caryophyllales, transgenic silkworms by coexpressing three betalain synthesis...

Abstract Genetically engineered silkworms have been widely used to obtain silk with modified characteristics especially by introducing spider genes. However, these attempts are still challenging due limitations in transformation strategies and difficulties integration of the large DNA fragments. Here, we describe three different genetically silkworms, including transcription-activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated fibroin light chain (FibL) fusion (BmFibL-F), TALEN-mediated FibH...

Juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolases (JHEHs) are a family of enzymes that hydrolyze juvenile hormones (JHs). They important in terms organ-specific regulation and irreversible degradation. In contrast to three JHEH genes (jheh) Drosophila melanogaster five jheh Tribolium castaneum, only one gene has been reported date lepidopteran insects. By searching genome database the silkworm, KAIKOBLAST, JHEH-related (jheh-r), addition Bmjheh, were found. Developmental changes mRNA expression brought...

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are associated with the detoxification of xenobiotics, and overexpression genes has been proven to be insecticide resistance in insect species. Our previous study revealed that multiple CYP6AE were significantly overexpressed a resistant strain

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an economically important insect that synthesizes large amounts of silk proteins in its gland to make cocoons. In recent years, germline transformation strategies advanced the bioengineering as ideal bioreactor for mass production recombinant proteins. However, yield exogenous varied largely due random insertion and gene drift caused by canonical transposon-based transformation, calling site-specific stable expression systems. current study, we...

Abstract Lipids are an important energy source and utilized as substrates for various physiological processes in insects. Comparative gene identification 58 ( CGI‐58 ), also known α/β hydrolase domain‐containing 5 ABHD5 is a highly conserved multifunctional involved regulating lipid metabolism cellular balance many organisms. However, the biological functions of insects poorly understood. In current study, we describe characterization lepidopteran model insect, Bombyx mori . The tissue...

Insect ion transport peptides (ITPs) are important regulators of many physiological processes and they exert their functions by interacting with receptors (ITPRs). However, no such ITPRs have been identified in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, therefore roles insects poorly understood. In current study, we comprehensively investigated ITPR lepidopteran insect, silkworm (Bombyx mori), using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9...

Abstract Recent identification of a Piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA)‐initiated sex determination cascade in the silkworm, Bombyx mori , provides novel insights into high diversity insect pathways. In this system, W‐chromosome‐derived Fem piRNA is primary signal. A CCCH‐type zinc finger gene Masculinizer ( Masc ), which targeted by piRNA‐PIWI complex female animals, indispensable for male‐specific splicing B. doublesex Bmdsx ). Although many genes involved have been identified, regulatory...

Abstract The diversity of cell types in the brain and how these change during different developmental stages, remains largely unknown. life cycle insects is short goes through 4 distinct stages including embryonic, larval, pupal, adult stages. During postembryonic life, larval transforms into a mature version after metamorphosis. silkworm, Bombyx mori , lepidopteran model insect. Here, we characterized repertoire B. by obtaining 50 708 single‐cell transcriptomes. Seventeen 12 clusters from...

Periodic post-embryonic changes in insects, including growth, development and metamorphosis, are strictly controlled by many compounds, steroid hormones. The biosynthesis clearance of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), the major active form insect hormone ecdysone, result titer fluctuations that help control development. inactivation 20E silkworm Bombyx mori is highly tissue-specific, with CYP18A1 ecdysone oxidase controlling specifically mid-silk gland midgut, respectively. Here, we characterized...

Abstract The prominent role of the P‐element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)‐interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in animals is to silence transposable elements and maintain genome stability, ensuring proper gametogenesis gonads. GASZ (Germ cell protein with Ankyrin repeats, Sterile alpha motif, leucine Zipper) an evolutionarily conserved located on outer mitochondrial membrane germ cells plays vital roles piRNA spermatogenesis mammals. In model insect Drosophila melanogaster , essential for...

The animal sperm shows high diversity in morphology, components, and motility. In the lepidopteran model insect, silkworm Bombyx mori, two types of sperm, including nucleate fertile eupyrene anucleate unfertile apyrene are generated. Apyrene assists fertilization by facilitating migration spermatozoa from bursa copulatrix to spermatheca. During spermatogenesis, bundles extrude cytoplasm peristaltic squeezing, while nuclei discarded with same process, forming matured sperm.

Hox genes of proboscipedia (pb) and Sex combs reduced (Scr) their cofactors are required for determination insect mouthpart identity play important roles in organ morphogenesis. However, the lepidopteran insects, including many agricultural forest pests, these morphogenesis unclear. Here we report that both BmPB (Gene ID: 101740380) BmSCR 692761) essential labial palpus specification a model insect, silkworm, Bombyx mori. During embryonic morphogenesis, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis...

The PAR‐domain protein 1 ( PDP1 ) is essential for locomotor activity of insects. However, its functions in insect growth and development have not been studied extensively, which prompted our hypothesis that acts energy metabolism. Here we report identification TcPDP1 the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum , functional analysis by RNAi. Treating larvae with dsTcPDP1 induced pupae developmental arrestment, accompanied accelerated fat body degradation. treatments adults resulted reduced...