Deletion of a gene encoding an amino acid transporter in the midgut membrane causes resistance to a Bombyx parvo-like virus

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 May 27;105(21):7523-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711841105. Epub 2008 May 21.

Abstract

Bombyx mori densovirus type 2 (BmDNV-2), a parvo-like virus, replicates only in midgut columnar cells and causes fatal disease. The resistance expressed in some silkworm strains against the virus is determined by a single gene, nsd-2, which is characterized as nonsusceptibility irrespective of the viral dose. However, the responsible gene has been unknown. We isolated the nsd-2 gene by positional cloning. The virus resistance is caused by a 6-kb deletion in the ORF of a gene encoding a 12-pass transmembrane protein, a member of an amino acid transporter family, and expressed only in midgut. Germ-line transformation with a wild-type transgene expressed in the midgut restores susceptibility, showing that the defective membrane protein is responsible for resistance. Cumulatively, our data show that the membrane protein is a functional receptor for BmDNV-2. This is a previously undescribed report of positional cloning of a mutant gene in Bombyx and isolation of an absolute virus resistance gene in insects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Bombyx / genetics*
  • Bombyx / virology*
  • Chromosome Walking
  • Densovirus / physiology*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Intestines / virology
  • Membranes / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Receptors, Virus / chemistry
  • Receptors, Virus / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • Insect Proteins
  • Receptors, Virus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB365597
  • GENBANK/AB365598