Title: | The Pitx homeobox gene in Bombyx mori: regulation of DH-PBAN neuropeptide hormone gene expression |
Author(s): | Shiomi K; Fujiwara Y; Yasukochi Y; Kajiura Z; Nakagaki M; Yaginuma T; |
Address: | "Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan. shiomi@giptc.shinshu-u.ac.jp" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.mcn.2006.10.015 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1044-7431 (Print) 1044-7431 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide gene, DH-PBAN, is expressed exclusively in seven pairs of DH-PBAN-producing neurosecretory cells (DHPCs) on the terminally differentiated processes of the subesophageal ganglion (SG). To help reveal the regulatory mechanisms of cell-specific DH-PBAN expression, we identified a cis-regulatory element that regulates expression in DHPCs using the recombinant AcNPV-mediated gene transfer system and a gel-mobility shift assay. Bombyx mori Pitx (BmPitx), a bicoid-like homeobox transcription factor, binds this element and activates DH-PBAN expression. The BmPitx was expressed in various tissues, including DHPCs in the SG. Suppression of DH-PBAN expression by silencing of the BmPitx successfully induced non-diapaused eggs from a diapause egg producer. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to identify a neuropeptide-encoding gene as a target of the Pitx transcriptional regulator in invertebrates. Thus, it is tempting to speculate that functional conservation of Pitx family members on neuropeptide gene expression occurs through a 'combinational code mechanism' in both vertebrate and invertebrate in neuroendocrine systems" |
Keywords: | "Animals Bombyx/*genetics Cloning, Molecular Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology Genes, Homeobox/*physiology Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism Insect Proteins/*metabolism Larva Molecular Sequence Data Neuropeptides/*metabolism Protein Precursors/*me;" |
Notes: | "MedlineShiomi, Kunihiro Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Yasukochi, Yuji Kajiura, Zenta Nakagaki, Masao Yaginuma, Toshinobu eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2006/12/15 Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007 Feb; 34(2):209-18. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2006.10.015. Epub 2006 Dec 12" |