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Molecular analysis of sex chromosome-linked mutants in the silkworm Bombyx mori

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Abstract

In Bombyx mori, the W chromosome determines the female sex. A few W chromosome-linked mutations that cause masculinization of the female genitalia have been found. In female antennae of a recently isolated mutant, both female-type and male-type Bmdsx mRNAs were expressed, and BmOr1 (bombykol receptor) and BmOr3 (bombykal receptor), which are predominantly expressed in the antennae of male moths, were expressed about 50 times more abundantly in the antennae of mutant females than in those of normal females. These mutants are valuable resources for the molecular analysis of the sexdetermination system. Besides the Fem gene, the quantitative egg size-determining gene Esd is thought to be present on theW chromosome, based on the observation that ZWW triploid moths produce larger eggs than ZZW triploids. The most recently updated B. mori genome assembly comprises 20.5 Mb of Z chromosome sequence. Using these sequence data, responsible genes or candidate genes for four Z-linked mutants have been reported. The od (distinct oily) and spli (soft and pliable) are caused by mutation in BmBLOS2 and Bmacj6, respectively. Bmap is a candidate gene for Vg (vestigial). Similarly, Bmprm is a candidate gene for Md (muscle dystrophy), causing abnormal development of indirect flight muscle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan

    Tsuguru Fujii & Toru Shimada

  2. Department of Biological Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwai-cho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan

    Hiroaki Abe

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  1. Tsuguru Fujii
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  2. Hiroaki Abe
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  3. Toru Shimada
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Correspondence to Toru Shimada.

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Fujii, T., Abe, H. & Shimada, T. Molecular analysis of sex chromosome-linked mutants in the silkworm Bombyx mori . J Genet 89, 365–374 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-010-0048-4

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