title: BmRobo1a and BmRobo1b control axon repulsion in the silkworm Bombyx mori.
abstract: The development of the nervous system is based on the growth and connection of axons, and axon guidance molecules are the dominant regulators during this course. Robo, as the receptor of axon guidance molecule Slit, plays a key role as a conserved repellent cue for axon guidance during the development of the central nervous system. However, the function of Robo in the silkworm Bombyx mori is unknown. In this study, we cloned two novel robo genes in B. mori (Bmrobo1a and Bmrobo1b). BmRobo1a and BmRobo1b lack an Ig and a FNIII domain in the extracellular region and the CC0 and CC2 motifs in the intracellular region. BmRobo1a and BmRobo1b were colocalized with BmSlit in the neuropil. Knock-down of Bmrobo1a and Bmrobo1b by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in abnormal development of axons. Our results suggest that BmRobo1a and BmRobo1b have repulsive function in axon guidance, even though their structures are different from Robo1 of other species.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Tong
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Yang
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China. Electronic address: wzcui88@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Zheng
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China. Electronic address: liuqingxin@sdau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qing-Xin
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
keywords: Axon guidance; Bombyx mori; RNA interference; Robo; Slit