在國家973計劃的持續(xù)支持下,，以西南大學夏慶友教授為首席科學家的研究團隊，繼完成家蠶基因組框架圖,、精細圖和重測序之后,，緊緊圍繞家蠶關(guān)鍵品質(zhì)性狀開展深入研究，并積極探索分子育種的關(guān)鍵技術(shù),，取得了新的重要進展,。
西南大學研究團隊介紹，家蠶翅原基變態(tài)發(fā)育的研究取得突破,。首次發(fā)現(xiàn)與胚胎早期發(fā)育相關(guān)的核轉(zhuǎn)錄因子ABmAbd－A也參與了蟲蛹變態(tài)發(fā)育過程的調(diào)控,，表明在蟲蛹變態(tài)過程中，成蟲器官的發(fā)育與早期胚胎發(fā)育存在一定的相似性,。研究提出了BmWCPs基因表達的激素調(diào)控模型,，為深入了解昆蟲變態(tài)發(fā)育和翅膀形成的激素調(diào)控作用提供了一個新的視野，并為實現(xiàn)長蛹期家蠶新品種培育,、提高蠶絲品質(zhì)的應用提供了理論基礎和技術(shù)指導,。該研究成果被《美國國家科學院院刊》刊發(fā)。
成功實現(xiàn)家蠶基因組編輯,。項目開展了基于鋅指核酸酶（ZFN）和類轉(zhuǎn)錄激活因子核酸酶（TALEN）的基因組編輯技術(shù)體系的構(gòu)建研究,，并在此基礎上對具有重要研究和經(jīng)濟價值的家蠶基因進行了敲除，制備了一系列具有重要價值的家蠶突變體,。研究結(jié)果已發(fā)表在PLoSOne雜志,。
轉(zhuǎn)基因抗病素材取得重要進展。利用轉(zhuǎn)基因技術(shù),，通過增量表達內(nèi)源抗性基因,、外源抗性基因和干涉病毒基因來提高家蠶對BmNPV病毒的抗性?？剐詸z測結(jié)果表明,，這4種方法都可以使家蠶的死亡率降低30％左右。在此基礎上,，對家蠶轉(zhuǎn)基因抗病毒策略進行了優(yōu)化和改進,，構(gòu)建了一個同時干涉多個病毒基因和增量表達抗性基因的轉(zhuǎn)基因載體,，顯微注射實用品種“芙蓉”（目前生產(chǎn)上推廣范圍最大品種的母種之一）獲得轉(zhuǎn)基因系統(tǒng)?？剐詸z測結(jié)果表明,，獲得的重組轉(zhuǎn)基因品系比非轉(zhuǎn)基因品種的存活率提高了50％，這將有望成為全世界第一個高抗病毒的轉(zhuǎn)基因動物,。
據(jù)了解,，從2003年開始，西南大學家蠶基因組研究團隊先后繪制完成了世界首張家蠶基因組框架圖,、家蠶基因精細圖,、高精度遺傳變異圖譜，由此奠定了中國在家蠶基因組研究中的世界領先地位,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1073/pnas.1203149109
PMC:
PMID:
Homeodomain POU and Abd-A proteins regulate the transcription of pupal genes during metamorphosis of the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Huimin Denga, Jialing Zhanga, Yong Lia, Sichun Zhenga, Lin Liua, Lihua Huanga, Wei-Hua Xub, Subba R. Pallic, and Qili Fenga,1
A cascade of 20-hydroxyecdysone–mediated gene expression and repression initiates larva-to-pupa metamorphosis. We recently showed that two transcription factors, BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1, bind to the cis-regulatory elements in the promoter of the gene coding for cuticle protein, BmWCP4, and regulate its expression during Bombyx mori metamorphosis. Here we show that down-regulation of BmPOUM2 expression by RNA interference during the wandering stage resulted in failure to complete metamorphosis. The thorax epidermis of RNA interference-treated larvae became transparent, wing disc growth and differentiation were arrested, and the larvae failed to spin cocoons. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that expression of the genes coding for pupal-specific wing cuticle proteins BmWCP1, BmWCP2, BmWCP3, BmWCP4, BmWCP5, BmWCP6, BmWCP8, and BmWCP9 were down-regulated in BmPOUM2 dsRNA-treated animals, whereas overexpression of BmPOUM2 protein increased the expression of BmWCP4, BmWCP5, BmWCP6, BmWCP7, and BmWCP8. Pull-down assays, far-Western blot, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the BmPOUM2 protein interacted with another homeodomain transcription factor, BmAbd-A, to induce the expression of BmWCP4. Immunohistochemical localization of BmPOUM2, BmAbd-A, and BmWCP4 proteins revealed that BmAbd-A and BmPOUM2 proteins are colocalized in the wing disc cell nuclei, whereas BmWCP4 protein is localized in the cytoplasm. Together these data suggest that BmPOUM2 interacts with the homeodomain transcription factor BmAbd-A and regulates the expression of BmWCP4 and probably other BmWCPs to complete the larva-to-pupa transformation. Although homeodomain proteins are known to regulate embryonic development, this study showed that these proteins also regulate metamorphosis.
