title: Identification of a cis-regulatory element that directs prothoracicotropic hormone gene expression in the silkworm Bombyx mori.
abstract: In the silkworm Bombyx mori and other insects, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) plays a central role in controlling molting and metamorphosis by stimulating the prothoracic glands to synthesize and release the molting hormone ecdysone. Using an AcNPV (Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus)-mediated transient gene transfer system, we identified a cis-regulatory element that participates in the decision to switch expression of PTTH on or off in PTTH-producing neurosecretory cells (PTPCs). The nucleotide sequence of this cis-regulatory element is similar to a cis-regulatory element that participates in direction of expression of diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide gene (DH-PBAN) (Shiomi et al., 2007). Furthermore, we found that B. mori Pitx (BmPitx), a bicoid-like homeobox transcription factor, binds the element and activates PTTH expression. Therefore, we propose that the cell-specific expression of two neuropeptide hormone genes, PTTH and DH-PBAN, is activated by the Pitx transcription factor, which may act as a pan-activator in the insect neuroendocrine system and in vertebrate pituitary cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiomi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008845:Microinjections; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018978:Molting / Q000235:genetics; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C092658:DH-PBAN precursor protein, Bombyx mori; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C009089:prothoracicotropic hormone