Sun Mee Hong

Structure and Expression Analysis of the Cecropin-E Gene from the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Cecropins belong to the antibacterial peptides family and are induced after injection of bacteria or their cell-wall components. By silkworm cDNA microarray analysis, a novel type of Cecropin family gene was identified as a cDNA up-regulated in early embryo, 1 day after oviposition. The cDNA isolated was 394 bp with 198 ORF translating 65 amino acids, encoding BmCecropin-E (BmCec-E). Using Southern hybridization and genome search analysis, the number of BmCec-E gene was estimated to be at least two per haploid, which consisted of two exons, as in other Cecropin family members. BmCec-E mRNA was expressed transiently 1 day after egg-laying (AEL, germ-band formation stage), and was specifically expressed in the degenerating intestine during the pre-pupal and pupal stages, unlike other Cecropin family genes. Immune challenge analysis showed that BmCec-E gene expression was more strongly induced by Escherichia coli (gram-negative) than by Micrococus luteus (gram-positive), and not by virus injection. By bacterial challenge, expression of BmCec-E mRNA was induced 12 h after injection, and was maintained for 24 h. Expression of BmCec-E after immune challenge was observed strongly in excretory organs, such as hindgut and malphigian, slightly in fat body, skin, and midgut.

RNAi suppression of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (BmFDL) for complex-type N-linked glycan synthesis in cultured silkworm cells

Glycoproteins have various biological functions including enzymatic activity, protein stability and others. Due to the presence of paucimannosidic N-linked glycans, recombinant proteins from an insect cell expression system may not be suitable for therapeutic use. Because baculovirus expression systems (BESs) are used to produce recombinant proteins, it is of interest to modify the endogenous N-glycosylation pathway in insects to mimic that of mammals. Using a soaking RNAi sensitive cell line, BmN4-SID1, has enabled us to suppress Bombyx mori FDL (BmFDL), an N-linked glycan-specific β-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Western blotting and MALDI-TOF MS demonstrated that the BmFDL depletion almost completely converted the paucimannosidic structures of the recombinant proteins produced by BES into a complex-type structure. This highly efficient, simple and low-cost method can be used for mass production of secretion proteins with complex-type N-linked glycans.

Efficient soluble protein production on transgenic silkworms expressing cytoplasmic chaperones

Baculovirus expression systems (BES) are widely used for recombinant protein production in lepidopteran cells or larvae. However, even in BES, the insolubility of recombinant proteins sometimes makes their expression difficult. In this study, to improve the solubility and yield of foreign proteins, we constructed transgenic silkworms using silkworm heat-shock proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp40, or Hsc70 and Hsp90 co-chaperone Hop. In these transgenic silkworms, the expression levels of the transgenes were under the control of a UAS·hsp mini-promoter driven by a Gal4NFkBp65 activator. When the transgenic silkworm with HSP70 and 40 (TGS-HSP70/40) was infected with BmNPV carrying mC3d and Gal4NFkBp65 under the control of baculovirus polyhedrin or p10 promoters, respectively, the soluble fraction of the His- or His·GST-tagged mC3d increased significantly. Similarly, the transgenic silkworm with HSC70 and HOP (TGS-HOP7) was effective for the expression of a steroid hormone receptor, USP2. In conclusion, the His-tagged baculovirus expression system featuring the chaperone effect TGS-HSP70/40 and TGS-HOP7 silkworms is effective for increasing the yields of soluble and functional foreign gene products.

Molecular Characterization, Localization, and Distribution of Innexins in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Gap junctions that allow for a direct exchange of second messenger and ions are the most conserved cellular structures in multicellular organisms. We have isolated and characterized a Bombyx mori gene innexin3 that encodes a new member of the innexin family required for the early embryonic development. The BmINX3 mRNA was 1,814 nucleotide residues in length, and the deduced amino acid sequence of BmInx3 shared 74% similarity with Apis melifera innexin3. The expression profile of the BmINX3 mRNA is similar to that of previously described BmINX2, expressed in ovary and testis after 5th instar larvae and in fat body after gut purge. However, during embryogenesis, the expression of BmINX3 mRNA is restricted to the blastokinesis stage. Microscopic observation of the BmInx2 and BmInx3 fused to fluorescent proteins showed an overlapping cytoplasmic expression, whereas the BmInx4 is accumulated in the cytoplasmic surface at which two cells have physical contact. This finding of innexins distribution in silkworm would provide an essential basis for future studies of the functions and interactions of innexins.

Characterization and recombinant protein expression of ferritin light chain homologue in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The silkworm genome encodes three iron storage proteins or ferritins, Fer1HCH, Fer2LCH, and Fer3HCH. Probing our EST library constructed from 1‐day‐old silkworm eggs revealed only Fer2LCH mRNA, which encoded for a protein with a predicted putative N‐glycosylation site. Developmental and tissue expression analyses during embryogenesis revealed that Fer2LCH mRNA was abundant from 6 h to 6 days after oviposition. Transcriptional expression of Fer2LCH during the postembryonic stage is also high in the larval fat body and mid‐gut, and then is upregulated in all pupal tissues tested. We found that Fer2LCH mRNA contains an iron‐responsive element, suggesting this ferritin subunit is subject to translational control. Although ferritin expression has been shown to increase following immune challenge in other insects, the levels of Fer2LCH mRNA were not significantly induced following viral or bacterial infection of Bombyx mori. Using a baculovirus expression system we expressed recombinant BmFer2LCH protein, which was detectable in the cytoplasmic fraction, likely in a compartment of the secretory pathway, and was shown to undergo posttranslational modifications including N‐glycosylation. In particular, rBmFer2LCH carbohydrate chains were composed of mannose and GlcNAc. We suggest that Fer2LCH is important for iron homeostasis and maintaining normal organ function in silkworms.

Expression of recombinant viscum album coloratum lectin B-chain in the silkworm expression system and evaluation of antioxidant activity

Korean mistletoe lectins (KMLs) possess many biological activities, including anti-tumor, apoptosis-inducing, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic activities. Recombinant KML-1A (rKML-1A) has been previously expressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli cells. However, the expression of rKML-1B in soluble form remains to be accomplished. In this study, we describe the production, purification, and characterization of recombinant KML-1B by using a baculovirus expression system, which employs silkworm larvae and pupae as hosts. Approximately 495 and 702 µg/mL of a 36-kDa rKML-1B protein were produced without a signal peptide by silkworm larvae and pupae, respectively. Treatment of the recombinant protein with N- or O-deglycosylase led to a decrease in its molecular mass, indicating the N-and/or O-glycosylation of rKML-1B. Purified rKML-1B displayed radical scavenging activities toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-amino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate], with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 95 µg/mL. This activity was discovered to be stable at 65°C. To our knowledge, this is the first report detailing the biological activity of plant-derived, pure rKML-1B.

Molecular analysis and bioactivity of luteinizing hormone from Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, produced in silkworm pupae

Luteinizing hormone (LH), a gonadotropin hormone (GTH) of the pituitary glycoprotein family, is important in oocyte maturation, ovulation, and spermiation. In this study, we generated a Japanese eel LH (JeLH) with and without the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) carboxyl-terminal peptides under the control of the polyhedron in the silkworm pupae BES to determine their expression levels, glycosylation profile, and in vitro bioactivity. The target proteins were highly expressed in the pupae hemolymph. Recombinant JeLH·eCG and JeLH were N- or O-glycosylated, as shown by periodic-acid Schiff staining, deglycosidase enzyme treatment, and lectin blot analyses, and showed no significant difference in the in vitro bioactivity. Both single-chain hormones and salmon pituitary extract induced maturation of Japanese eel oocytes in vitro. Recombinant LHs produced in silkworm pupae might be suitable candidates for in vivo experiments, because they can be produced in sufficient amount and can undergo N-glycosylation.