Open AccessComparative Analysis of Transcriptomes among Bombyx mori Strains and Sexes Reveals the Genes Regulating Melanic Morph and the Related Phenotypes
Author(s) -
Songzhen He,
Xiaoling Tong,
Kunpeng Lu,
Yaru Lu,
Jiangwen Luo,
Wenhao Yang,
Min Chen,
Min-Jin Han,
Hai Hu,
Cheng Lü,
Fangyin Dai
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0155061
Subject(s) - melanism , biology , phenotype , bombyx mori , transcriptome , genetics , gene , mutant , evolutionary biology , longevity , gene expression
As a source of insect polymorphism, melanism plays an important role in ecological adaption and usually endows advantageous phenotypic-effects on insects. However, due to the mechanistic diversity, there are knowledge gaps in the molecular mechanisms underlying melanism and the related phenotypes. In silk moths, a recessive melanic mutant ( sex-controlled melanism , sml ) strain exhibits extended adult longevity. We took a transcriptome approach to perform a comparative analysis between this sml strain and a wild-type strain (Dazao). Our analysis resulted in the identification of 59 unique differentially expressed genes in the melanic mutant. Two key genes ( laccase2 and yellow ) involved in melanin formation were significantly up-regulated in melanic individuals. The laccase2 B-type isoform ( BGIBMGA006746 ) was found to likely participate in the silkworm cuticular melanism process at late pupal stage. Moreover , we discovered 22 cuticular protein encoding genes with the possible function in melanin transport and/or maintenance. Based on our findings, we presume that the longer survival of the melanic sml male moths might be associated with the enhanced antioxidant defense systems and a reduction in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway (IIS). These findings will facilitate the understanding of the molecular basis underlying melanism and the derived phenotypic-effects.