Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analyses of Silk-Associated Genes and Functional Characterization of Key Silk Fibroins in <i>Plutella xylostella</i>.

ABSTRACT: The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a serious agricultural pest that utilizes silk as a defensive mechanism, with silk fibroins playing a pivotal role in this process. Through comprehensive transcriptomic analyses, we identified 3452 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) co-expressed in the silk gland of P. xylostella and associated with silk production. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed enrichment in categories related to protein synthesis, secretion, and extracellular matrix organization, while Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis linked these genes to amino acid metabolism and protein processing pathways. Additionally, we identified three key silk fibroin genes: silk fibroin heavy chain (FibH), sil

SUBMITTER: Niu RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11988815 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature