title: BmBR-C Z4 is an upstream regulatory factor of BmPOUM2 controlling the pupal specific expression of BmWCP4 in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.
abstract: 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)-induced expression of the wing disc cuticle protein gene BmWCP4 was mediated by the transcription factor BmPOUM2, which binds to the cis-response elements (CREs) of BmWCP4 gene in Bombyx mori. In this study we report the regulation of BmPOUM2. RT-PCR analysis indicated that in response to 20E, BmPOUM2 was expressed at higher levels in the wing discs during the pre-pupal and mid-pupal stages than other stages and the expression pattern of BmBR-C Z1, BmBR-C Z2 and BmBR-C Z4 was in tandem with the expression of BmPOUM2. BmBR-C Z4 was induced by 20E in the wing discs, whereas BmBR-C Z1 and BmBR-C Z2 were not. Three potential BR-C Z4 cis-response elements (CREs) were identified in the promoter region of BmPOUM2. The expression of BmPOUM2 mRNA and protein was increased by the over-expression of BmBR-C Z4 in BmN cells, which acted at the promoter of BmPOUM2. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and the luciferase activity analysis under the control of wild-type and mutants of the BR-C Z4 CREs suggested that BmBR-C Z4 protein bound to the predicted BRC-Z4 CRE C (-684 ∼ -660). Taken together the data suggest that BmBR-C Z4 is a direct upstream regulator of BmPOUM2 and regulates the pupal-specific expression of BmWCP4 through BmPOUM2.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Entomology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Entomology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
authors.forename: Kangkang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Entomology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
authors.forename: Jialing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Entomology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China. Electronic address: qlfeng@scnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qili
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011679:Pupa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004441:Ecdysterone
keywords: BR-C; Bombyx mori; Cuticle protein; POUM2; Response element; Transcription factor; Wing disc