Unique sex determination system in the silkworm, <i>Bombyx mori</i>: current status and beyond

DOI Web Site Web Site PubMed 5 Citations 39 References
  • KATSUMA Susumu
    Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
  • KIUCHI Takashi
    Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
  • KAWAMOTO Munetaka
    Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
  • FUJIMOTO Toshiaki
    Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University
  • SAHARA Ken
    Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • Unique sex determination system in the silkworm, Bombyx mori : current status and beyond

Search this article

Description

<p>The silkworm Bombyx mori has been used for silk production for over 5,000 years. In addition to its contribution to sericulture, B. mori has played an important role in the field of genetics. Classical genetic studies revealed that a gene(s) with a strong feminizing activity is located on the W chromosome, but this W-linked feminizing gene, called Feminizer (Fem), had not been cloned despite more than 80 years of study. In 2014, we discovered that Fem is a precursor of a single W chromosome-derived PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). Fem-derived piRNA binds to PIWI protein, and this complex then cleaves the mRNA of the Z-linked Masculinizer (Masc) gene, which encodes a protein required for both masculinization and dosage compensation. These findings showed that the piRNA-mediated interaction between the two sex chromosomes is the primary signal for the sex determination cascade in B. mori. In this review, we summarize the history, current status, and perspective of studies on sex determination and related topics in B. mori.</p>

Journal

Citations (5)*help

See more

References(39)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top