Ectopic expression of the male BmDSX affects formation of the chitin plate in female Bombyx mori. Issue 3 (13th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duan, Jianping; Xu, Hanfu; Ma, Shangyuan; Guo, Huizheng; Wang, Feng; Zhang, Liying; Zha, Xingfu; Zhao, Ping; Xia, Qingyou
• Is Part Of: Molecular reproduction and development. Volume 81:Issue 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2014-01-13
• Subjects: Reproduction -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Molecular genetics -- Periodicals; Embryology -- Periodicals; 571.8
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-452X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>SUMMARY</title> <sec id="mrd22290-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Mating structures are involved in successful copulation, intromission, and/or insemination. These structures enable tight coupling between external genitalia of two sexes. During <italic>Bombyx mori</italic> copulation, the double harpagones in the external genitalia of males clasp the female chitin plate, which is derived from the larval eighth abdominal segment; abnormal development of the female chitin plate affects copulation. We report that ERK phosphorylation (p‐ERK) and expression of <italic>Abdominal‐B</italic> (<italic>Abd‐B</italic>) in the posterior abdomen of the female adult is lower than in the male. Ectopic expression of the male‐specific spliced form of <italic>B. mori doublesex</italic> (<italic>Bmdsx</italic><sup><italic>M</italic></sup>) in females, however, up‐regulates <italic>Abd‐B</italic> and <italic>spitz</italic> (<italic>spi</italic>) expression, increasing EGFR signaling activity, and thus forming an abnormal chitin plate and reduced female copulation. These findings indicate that <italic>Bmdsx</italic> affects the development of the eighth abdominal segment by regulating the activity of EGFR signaling and the expression of <italic>Abd‐B</italic>, resulting in an extra eighth abdominal segment (A8) in males versus the loss of this segment in adult females. <italic>Mol. Reprod. Dev. 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>