Comparison of transformation efficiency of piggyBac transposon among three different silkworm Bombyx mori Strains

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2007 Feb;39(2):117-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2007.00252.x.

Abstract

The transformation rate of three different strains of silkworm Bombyx mori was compared after the introduction of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-encoding genes into the silkworm eggs by microinjection of a mixture of piggyBac vector and helper plasmid containing a transposase-encoding sequence. Although there were no significant differences among the three strains in the percentages of fertile moths in microinjected eggs (P=0.1258), the percentages of G(0) transformed moths in fertile moths and injected eggs were both significantly different (P=0.01368 and P=0.02398, respectively). The transformation rate of the Nistari strain (Indian strain) was significantly higher than that of the other two strains, Golden-yellow-cocoon (Vietnamese strain) and Jiaqiu (Chinese strain), which had similar rate. These results indicate that the transformation efficiency of the piggyBac-based system might vary with silkworm strains with different genetic backgrounds. The presence of endogenous piggyBac-like elements might be an important factor influencing the transformation efficiency of introduced piggyBac-derived vectors, and the diverse amount and activation in different silkworm strains might account for the significant differences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bombyx / classification
  • Bombyx / genetics*
  • China
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / analysis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • India
  • Ovum / physiology
  • Plasmids
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transformation, Genetic
  • Vietnam

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins