RRC ID 36148
著者 Lee J, Kiuchi T, Kawamoto M, Shimada T, Katsuma S.
タイトル Identification and functional analysis of a Masculinizer orthologue in Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae).
ジャーナル Insect Mol Biol
Abstract We recently showed that the Masculinizer gene (Masc) plays a primary role in sex determination in the lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori. However, it remains unknown whether this Masc protein-dependent sex determination system is conserved amongst lepidopteran insects or within the family Bombycidae. Here we cloned and characterized a Masc homologue (TvMasc) in Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), a species closely related to B. mori. To elucidate the role of TvMasc in the sex determination cascade of T. varians, TvMasc expression was knocked down in early embryos by the injection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that targeted TvMasc mRNAs. Both female- and male-type splice variants of Tvdsx, a doublesex (dsx) homologue in T. varians were observed in control siRNA-injected embryos. By contrast, only female-type splice variants were observed in TvMasc siRNA-injected embryos. These results indicate that the TvMasc protein directly or indirectly regulates the splicing patterns of Tvdsx. Furthermore, we found that male-type splice variants of B. mori dsx (Bmdsx) were produced in TvMasc-overexpressing BmN4 cells. The mRNA level of B. mori Imp, a gene whose product induces male-specific Bmdsx splicing also increased. These results suggest that Masc genes play similar roles in the sex-determination cascade in Bombycidae.
巻・号 24(5)
ページ 561-9
公開日 2015-10-1
DOI 10.1111/imb.12181
PMID 26154510
MeSH Animals Female Gene Knockdown Techniques Insect Proteins / genetics Insect Proteins / metabolism* Male Moths / embryology Moths / genetics* RNA Splicing RNA, Messenger / genetics RNA, Small Interfering / genetics Sex Determination Processes
IF 2.533
引用数 10
WOS 分野 ENTOMOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
リソース情報
カイコ Trilocha varians