A5062020149- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
The University of Tokyo
2016-2025
National Institute of Health Sciences
2022-2024
Tokyo University of Agriculture
2019
Ube Frontier University
2008
University of Tokyo Health Sciences
2007
Saitama University
2004
Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
1996-1999
In 2008, the genome assembly and gene models for domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, were published by a Japanese Chinese collaboration group. However, contains non-negligible number of misassembled gap regions due to presence many repetitive sequences within silkworm genome. The erroneous occasionally causes incorrect prediction. Here we performed hybrid based on 140 × deep sequencing long (PacBio) short (Illumina) reads. remaining gaps in initial closed using BAC Fosmid sequences, giving new...
Pathogens are known to manipulate the reproduction and development of their hosts for own benefit. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that infects a wide range insect species. as example parasite manipulates sex its host's progeny. Infection Ostrinia moths by causes production all-female progeny, however, mechanism how accomplishes this male-specific killing unknown. Here we show first time targets host masculinizing gene accomplish male-killing. We found Wolbachia-infected O....
Bacterial symbionts, such as Wolbachia species, can manipulate the sexual development and reproduction of their insect hosts. For example, infection induces male-specific death in Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis by targeting host factor Masculinizer (Masc), an essential protein for masculinization dosage compensation lepidopteran insects. Here we identify a protein, designated Oscar, which interacts with Masc via its ankyrin repeats. Embryonic expression Oscar inhibits Masc-induced...
Accurate chromosome segregation requires assembly of the multiprotein kinetochore complex at centromeres. In most eukaryotes, is primed by histone H3 variant CenH3 (also called CENP-A), which physically interacts with components inner constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN). Unexpectedly, regarding its critical function, previous work identified that select eukaryotic lineages, including several insects, have lost while having retained homologs CCAN. These findings imply...
ABSTRACT The lethal effect of an Escherichia coli pgsA null mutation, which causes a complete lack the major acidic phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin, is alleviated by outer membrane lipoprotein encoded lpp gene, but strain shows thermosensitive growth defect. Using transposon mutagenesis, we found that this thermosensitivity was suppressed disruption rcsC , rcsF yojN genes, code for sensor kinase, accessory positive factor, phosphotransmitter, respectively, Rcs...
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are at the heart of nucleic acid-based adaptive immune system against transposons in animal gonads. To date, how piRNA pathway senses an element as a substrate and de novo production is initiated remain elusive. Here, by utilizing GFP transgene, we screened obtained clonal silkworm BmN4 cell lines producing massively amplified GFP-derived piRNAs capable silencing trans. In multiple independent where expression was silenced pathway, detected common transcript...
Abstract We recently showed that the Masculinizer gene ( Masc ) plays a primary role in sex determination lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori . However, it remains unknown whether this protein‐dependent system is conserved amongst insects or within family Bombycidae. Here we cloned and characterized homologue TvMasc Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), species closely related to B. To elucidate of cascade T. , expression was knocked down early embryos by injection small interfering...
In Bombyx mori (B. mori), Fem piRNA originates from the W chromosome and is responsible for femaleness. The piRNA-PIWI complex targets cleaves mRNAs transcribed Masc gene. encodes a novel CCCH type zinc-finger protein required male-specific splicing of B. doublesex (Bmdsx) transcripts. present study, several silkworm strains carrying transgene, which piRNA-resistant mRNA (Masc-R), were generated. Forced expression Masc-R transgene caused female-specific lethality during larval stages. One...
Abstract We introduce SilkBase as an integrated database for transcriptomic and genomic resources of the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori related species. is oldest B. that was originally established expressed sequence tag since 1999. Here, we upgraded by including datasets newly assembled complete genome sequence, predicted gene models, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-end fosmid-end sequences, complementary DNA (cDNA) reads from 69 libraries, RNA-seq data 10 PIWI-interacting RNAs...
Most insects enter diapause, a state of physiological dormancy crucial for enduring harsh seasons, with photoperiod serving as the primary cue its induction, ensuring proper seasonal timing process. Although involvement circadian clock in photoperiodic time measurement has been demonstrated through knockdown or knockout genes, gene cryptochrome 1 (cry1), which functions photoreceptor implicated photoentrainment across various insect species, remains unclear. In bivoltine strains silkworm,...
Bombyx mori macula-like virus (BmMLV) is a positive, single-stranded insect RNA that closely related to plant maculaviruses. BmMLV currently characterized as an unclassified maculavirus. accumulates at extremely high levels in cell lines derived from the silkworm, mori, but it does not lead lethality and establishes persistent infections. It unknown how this maculavirus replicates infections cells. Here, we showed p15, which located on subgenomic fragment found maculaviruses, highly...
Abstract Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a potentially critical source of material for ecological adaptation and the evolution novel genetic traits. However, reports on posttransfer duplication in organism genomes are lacking, evolutionary advantages conferred recipient generally poorly understood. Sucrase plays an important role insect physiological growth development. Here, we performed comprehensive analysis β-fructofuranosidase transferred from bacteria via HGT. We found that...
Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria in insects that can manipulate the sexual development and reproduction by male killing or other methods. We have recently identified a protein named Oscar acts as male‐killing factor for lepidopteran insects. interacts with Masculinizer (Masc) protein, which is required both masculinization dosage compensation (DC) Embryonic expression of inhibits causes two species, Ostrinia furnacalis Bombyx mori . However, it remains unknown whether Oscar‐induced...
The wild silk moth, Bombyx mandarina, is the closest relative of domesticated mori. National BioResource Project Japan (NBRP) maintains a B. mandarina strain derived from individuals captured at Sakado (Saitama, Japan) in 1982. Now, NBRP has developed chromosome replacement strains In each strain, one autosome mori was replaced with corresponding mandarina. To facilitate use and itself, we constructed chromosome-level genome assembly Furthermore, performed functional annotations assembly,...
The WZ sex determination system is found in a diverse range of animals, including lepidopteran insects. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, model insect, females carry W chromosome with feminizing gene Feminizer (Fem), which source female-specific PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). Fem piRNA-PIWI complex cleaves an mRNA encoding masculinizing protein Masculinizer (BmMasc), resulting production female-type splice variant mori doublesex (Bmdsx), master genetic switch B. differentiation. contrast, males,...
Abstract In response to herbivory, plants emit a blend of volatile organic compounds that includes green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and terpenoids. These are known attract natural enemies herbivores therefore considered function as an indirect defense. Selection should favor able suppress these emissions, thereby make themselves less conspicuous enemies. We tested this possibility for silkworms, which were observed leave secretions from their spinnerets while feeding on mulberry leaves. When we...
The Masculinizer (Masc) gene encodes a CCCH-tandem zinc finger protein that controls both masculinization and dosage compensation in the silkworm Bombyx mori. We previously measured masculinizing activity of lepidopteran Masc proteins using B. mori ovary-derived cell line BmN-4. Here, we established an RNA-seq data-based assay system which level (BmMasc)-induced can be estimated BmN-4 cells. Using this system, found cysteine residue at position 301, was shown to essential for BmMasc, is also...