title: Effects of BmKIT3R gene transfer on the development and survival of silkworm Bombyx mori.
abstract: To verify the effects of gain-of-function mutation of the BmKIT3(R) gene (from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch) on the development and survival rate of insects and to explore a novel strategy for pest control, the effects of BmKIT3(R) gene transfer on the development and survival rate of silkworms were investigated. A novel transgenic vector derived from the piggyBac transposon with the BmKIT3(R) gene controlled by the Bmhsp20.4 promoter was transferred into silkworm eggs. Transgenic silkworms were obtained after screening with GFP and G418 antibiotics and verification by PCR and dot hybridization. The results showed that the oviposition number decreased by 18.9%, and the hatching and final survival rates were approximately 63% and 47.5%, respectively. Some 18.9% of surviving pupae died before developing into moths in the G3 generation. A specific band corresponding to BmKIT3(R) was detected for transgenic silkworms by Western blotting. This indicates that the Bmhsp 20.4 promoter has constitutive expression activity. The significant decrease in the survival rate suggests that pest population numbers could be effectively controlled by using BmKIT3(R) gene transfer. Furthermore, it can be speculated that pupal development to moths could be blocked if BmKIT3(R) were specially expressed in the pupal stage and reeling with fresh cocoons was performed.
authors: School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors: Xiaojuan
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Guangli
authors: G
authors: Cao
authors: Renyu
authors: R
authors: Xue
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Xie
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiaohua
authors: X
authors: Yu
authors: Chengliang
authors: C
authors: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011679:Pupa / Q000378:metabolism; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000235:genetics*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins