Molecular basis and biological significance of flavonoid cocoons of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23688008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied entomology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: DAIMON Takaaki 独立行政法人農業生物資源研究所, 昆虫成長制御研究ユニット, 主任研究員 (70451846)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: カイコ / フラボノイド / 遺伝子 / ゲノム / 生態学 / ゲノム編集

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to reveal the molecular basis of flavonoid cocoons and their biological significances in the silkworm and its relative species. I performed a ddRAD-seq analysis in the silkworm and found that a novel locus that is involved in the flavonoid cocoon trait is located on the chromosome 20. I also revealed biological and ecological features of several species relative to the domesticated silkworm, and a great diversity in the flavonoid compounds contained in their cocoons. In addition, I established a highly efficient system for targeted mutagenesis in the silkworm, which can be a powerful tool for studying gene functions in a more sophisticated way.

Free Research Field

昆虫遺伝学