title: A novel Cph-like gene involved in histogenesis and maintenance of midgut in Bombyx mori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male-biased silkworm larva resistance is useful for sericulture and lepidopteran pest control. According to previous research, the mechanism underlying this resistance might be related to midgut-specific proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A midgut-specific and novel hypothetical cuticular protein-like (Cph-like) gene was cloned, based on sex-disparity serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries of the B. mori midgut. The complete cDNA contained 676 bp and encoded 165 amino acid residues. The gene was located on chromosome 19 and it had only one short 75 bp intron. The Cph-like expression level was downregulated by exogenous 20-hydroxyecdysone or starvation, but upregulated by exogenous methoprene or food intake. Knockdown (siRNA) of the Cph-like gene suppressed the appetite and delayed larval development, while it also degraded enterocytes and damaged the midgut morphology. Furthermore, the male-biased cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) resistance of larvae was decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Cph-like gene is a midgut-specific novel gene in B. mori that may participate in histogenesis and midgut maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Biology Department, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanghu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sima
authors.forename: Shiqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004064:Digestive System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D004441:Ecdysterone
keywords: BmCPV resistance; Bombyx mori; gene expression; hypothetical cuticular protein