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The expression profile and promoter analysis of ultraspiracle gene in the silkworm Bombyx mori

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Abstract

The nuclear receptor, ultraspiracle protein (USP), is a transcription factor and an essential component of a heterodimeric receptor complex with ecdysone receptor. However, the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of USP in silkworm are unknown. In this study, using dual-spike-in qPCR method, we examined the expression of Bombyx ultraspiracle gene (BmUSP) in various tissues of silkworm as well as expression changes after stimulation with ecdysone. The results showed that the expression levels of BmUSP gene varied in different tissues and were increased 2 h after exposure to ecdysone. To identify the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of USP gene expression in silkworm Bombyx mori, promoter truncation analyses were performed using the luciferase reporter assay and Bac-to-Bac expression system in several tissues of B. mori. BmUSP gene promoter with 5′ end serial deletions showed different levels of activity in various tissues, higher in fat body and Malpighian tubule. Deletion of the region from −485 to −445 and −307 to −281 upstream of BmUSP gene abolished and increased its promoter activity, respectively. This region contains AP-1, Dfd transcription factor binding sites. These results indicate that BmUSP are expressed at different levels in different tissues of the silkworm, but all are subjected to the regulation by ecdysone. This study would provide an important foundation for investigating the mechanism underlying the transcriptional regulation of BmUSP in the silkworm.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the foundation of post scientist in National Sericultural System (CARS-22-ZJ0305).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People’s Republic of China

    Ming-xia Huang, Jie Du, Bao-jin Su, Guo-dong Zhao, Wei-de Shen & Zheng-guo Wei

  2. National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People’s Republic of China

    Wei-de Shen & Zheng-guo Wei

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  1. Ming-xia Huang
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  2. Jie Du
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Correspondence to Wei-de Shen or Zheng-guo Wei.

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Ming-xia Huang and Jie Du have contributed equally to this work.

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Huang, Mx., Du, J., Su, Bj. et al. The expression profile and promoter analysis of ultraspiracle gene in the silkworm Bombyx mori . Mol Biol Rep 41, 7955–7965 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3690-8

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