title: Bombyx mori orphan receptor, BmHR78: cDNA cloning, testis abundant expression and putative dimerization partner for Bombyx ultraspiracle.
abstract: We have identified a novel member of the nuclear receptor superfamily from the silkworm Bombyx mori, and named it as BmHR78, the B. mori hormone receptor. The DNA binding domain of BmHR78 shows high similarities to those of Tenebrio molitor hormone receptor 78, Drosophila hormone receptor 78, and mammalian testicular receptor 2, whereas the ligand binding domain is not well conserved. Northern blot analysis showed that BmHR78 gene was most abundantly expressed in the testis. From the fourth to fifth instar, BmHR78 gene was constantly expressed in the testis. In the anterior silk gland, the level of BmHR78 gene expression was developmentally changed. From day 10.0 to 11.0 in the fifth instar, another BmHR78 transcript with the smaller size appeared. Ultraspiracle (USP) isoform also appeared at the same stages in this tissue. BmHR78 forms not only a homodimer, but also a heterodimer with USP in a yeast two hybrid assay. The direct interaction between BmHR78 and USP was confirmed by pull down assay. Deletion mutant analysis showed that BmHR78 interacts with USP via the ninth heptad repeat in helix ten of the E region. This repeat is well conserved in RXR and its heterodimer partners, and shown to be an interface for their dimerization. In insect, only the ecdysone receptor and hormone receptor 38 are known thus far to dimerize with USP. Thus, BmHR78 is a third dimerization partner for USP and may modulate the molecular action of USP, including the ecdysone signal cascades.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Differentiation, National Institute of Agrobiological Science, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, 305-8634, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamimura
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiotsuki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012831:Bombyx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins