BmE2F1 regulates endoreplication of silk gland cells in silkworm, Bombyx mori

Linli Zhou; Shuo Liu; Chunlin Li; Wei Zhou; Fangyin Dai; Xiaoling Tong

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138916

BmE2F1 regulates endoreplication of silk gland cells in silkworm, Bombyx mori

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Dec 18:291:138916. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138916. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Linli Zhou¹, Shuo Liu¹, Chunlin Li¹, Wei Zhou², Fangyin Dai³, Xiaoling Tong⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39706412
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138916

Abstract

Endoreplication is particularly important in the context of silk protein synthesis within the silk gland cells of silkworms. Our previous research indicated that the BmE2F1 enhances the silk yield of silkworm cocoons, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we employed RNA-sequencing to dissect the transcriptional profiles of silk glands in the wild-type Dazao silkworm strain and the overexpression (OE) silkworm strain with specific overexpression of the BmE2F1 gene in silk glands. Among the 1126 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), many related to DNA replication (endoreplication in silk glands of silkworm larvae) were significantly enriched. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that overexpression of BmE2F1 led to a substantial increase in the expression of 13 genes involved in the DNA replication pathway. Additionally, BmE2F1 upregulated the expression of BmCyclin E, a pivotal gene in the G/S phase transition. Moreover, BmE2F1 overexpression in silk glands significantly boosted DNA replication and concurrently increased the DNA content within silk glands. In conclusion, BmE2F1 regulates endoreplication in silk gland cells of silkworms through dual mechanisms: firstly, by enhancing the formation of the DNA replication complex; and secondly, by facilitating the cells' entry into the S phase.

Keywords: BmE2F1; Bombyx mori; Endoreplication; Silkworm.