The <i>Bombyx mori singed</i> Gene Is Involved in the High-Temperature Resistance of Silkworms
Zhenye Liu,
Cong Li,
Wenyu Yang,
Qiao Wu,
Wenfu Xiao,
Yan Zhu,
Qiongqiong Wei,
Zhanqi Dong,
Guizheng Zhang,
Cheng Lu,
Minhui Pan,
Peng Chen
Affiliations
Zhenye Liu
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Cong Li
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Wenyu Yang
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Qiao Wu
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Wenfu Xiao
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Yan Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Qiongqiong Wei
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Zhanqi Dong
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Guizheng Zhang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sericultural Genetic Improvement and Efficient Breeding, Sericulture Technology Promotion Station of Guangxi, Nanning 530007, China
Cheng Lu
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Minhui Pan
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Peng Chen
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Temperature is an important factor in the growth, development, survival, and reproduction of organisms. The high-temperature resistance mechanism of insects may be significant for use in the prevention and control of insect pests. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an important Lepidoptera model species for studies on pest control in agriculture and forestry. We identified a gene in B. mori, the B. mori singed (Bmsn) gene, which is involved in the high-temperature resistance of silkworms. Sn proteins are highly conserved among species in many taxonomic groups. The overexpression of the Bmsn gene promoted the proliferation of silkworm cells, reduced oxidation, and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species under stress. Interfering with the Bmsn gene had the opposite result. We constructed a transgenic B. mori strain that overexpressed the Bmsn gene. The physiological traits of the transgenic strain were significantly improved, and it had stronger high-temperature resistance. The Bmsn gene is involved in the process by which fat bodies respond to high-temperature stress. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of high-temperature resistance of insects and offer a new perspective on agricultural and forestry pest control.
