The Bmdsx transgene including trimmed introns is sex-specifically spliced in tissues of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

J Insect Sci. 2005:5:17. doi: 10.1093/jis/5.1.17. Epub 2005 May 25.

Abstract

Bmdsx is an orthologue of the sex-determining gene doublesex (dsx) and known to be sex-specifically expressed in various tissues of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Its pre-mRNA is sex-specifically spliced and encodes female-specific or male-specific polypeptides. The open reading frame of Bmdsx consists of 5 exons, of which exons 3 and 4 are female-specific and its pre-mRNA was known to undergo default processing to generate the female-type mRNA. Previous reports have shown that the mechanism of splicing of the doublesex gene is different in Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori. However, intron 4 is so long that it is difficult to identify the intronic cis-element(s) required for male-specific splicing of Bmdsx pre-mRNA using Bmdsx minigenes whose introns are shortened in various manners. As a first step toward discovery of the cis-element, the Bmdsx mini gene, which consisted of exon 1 and 5 and internally shortened introns 2 to 4, was constructed, and transgenic silkworms expressing this construct were generated. Bmdsx pre-mRNA transcribed derived from transgene was sex-specifically spliced. This result shows that the mini gene contained the information necessary for the correct regulation of alternative splicing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing* / genetics
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / physiology
  • Bombyx / genetics*
  • Bombyx / metabolism*
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Order / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / chemical synthesis
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Introns / genetics
  • Male
  • Microinjections / methods
  • Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Sex Factors
  • Transformation, Genetic
  • Transgenes / genetics
  • Transgenes / physiology

Substances

  • Bmdsx protein, Bombyx mori
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein