Overexpression of Ultrabithorax Changes the Development of Silk Gland and the Expression of Fibroin Genes in Bombyx mori.

ABSTRACT: Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is a member of the Hox gene group involved in cell fate decisions, cell proliferation and organ identity. Its function has been extensively researched in Drosophila melanogaster but little is known about it in Lepidoptera. To uncover the function of Ubx in the development of lepidopterans, we constructed the Ubx overexpression (Ubx^OE) strain based on the Nistari strain of Bombyx mori. The Ubx^OE strain showed a small body size, transparent intersegmental membrane and abnormal posterior silk gland (PSG). In the current study, we focused on the effect of Ubx overexpression on the posterior silk gland. As the major protein product of PSG, the mRNA expression of fibroin heavy chain (Fib-H

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10095271 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature