Identification of miRNA-mRNA network involved in regulation of the sex determination in lepidopteran insects

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26292172
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Masataka 東京大学, 新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (30360572)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): AOKI Fugaku 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (20175160)
• Research Collaborator: SAKAI Hiroki ; KASASHIMA Megumi ; SEZUTSU Hideki ; HATAKEYAMA Masatsugu
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 性決定 / 性分化 / microRNA / doublesex / カイコ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate whether microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in sexual development of the silkworm Bombyx mori, we performed genome wide analysis for miRNAs that are highly expressed in the sex determination stage. The analysis identified that miR-2733i-3p is specifically expressed at the sex determination stage. Knockdown of miR-2733i-3p resulted in lower expression of the sex-determining gene Bmdsx in embryonic stage. in silico analysis predicted that Bmdsx is a possible target of miR-2733i-3p. Our validation analysis with reporter assays demonstrated that miR-2733i-3p binds to a target sequence in the Bmdsx 3’UTR and repress its translation. These results suggest that miR-2733i-3p may regulate sexual development of the silkworm by regulating the expression of Bmdsx.

Free Research Field

分子昆虫学