Functional analysis of the BmNRF6 gene family involved in lifespan of the silkworm

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02202
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ito Katsuhiko 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80725812)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 横山 岳 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 教授 (20210635)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: カイコ / 致死 / 寿命 / 突然変異 / ゲノム編集

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to identify the function of BmNRF6 gene family responsible for the larval lethal and short life span of imago. In the l-nl gene responsible for lethality immediately after hatching, we have successfully isolated the causative gene throughout genome editing approach and allelic test between knockout individuals and mutants. In the sli gene responsible for short life span of imago, we found that the amount of glycerol in the moth body decreased rapidly only in the mutant, suggesting that the phenotype of short life span of imago may be related to abnormal energy metabolism. In the BmNRF6 gene family, we analyzed tissue-specific gene expression patterns in the brain, nervus system, silkgland, testis, ovary, fat body, malpighian tubules, foregut, midgut, and hindgut, in all 18 BmNRF6 gene, and found that each gene is expressed differently in each tissue and even in different amounts. In addition, we have successfully generated four types of BmNRF6 knockout lines.

Free Research Field

昆虫遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々はカイコのゲノム上に18種類のBmNRF6遺伝子が存在することを明らかにし、そのうちの2つがカイコの幼虫致死と成虫寿命に関わることを見出した。NRF6遺伝子は他生物種においてその機能がほとんど明らかになっていない。そのため、本研究で得られる成果はカイコのみならず昆虫の新たな生理機能の探索につながると考えられる。また本研究は、カイコを従来の養蚕業上重要な昆虫として位置づけるのではなく、作物の害虫であるチョウ目昆虫として考えることで、致死や短命という表現型をペストコントロールに展開することも目的としている。