Bmlark is essential for embryonic development.

Background: Transcription factor lark has been demonstrated to play multiple functions in Drosophila, but the function of this gene in embryonic development remains to be elucidated.

Results: In this study, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing method was used to construct a Bmlark mutant strain of Bombyx mori to investigate the roles of this gene. The results showed that the homozygous mutant Bmlark was lethal.

G-quadruplex is involved in the regulation of BmSGF1 expression in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Advanced DNA structures, such as the G-quadruplex (G4) and the i-motif, are widely but not randomly present in the genomes of many organisms. A G4 structure was identified in the promoter of the silk gland factor-1 gene (SGF1), which is the main regulatory gene for silk production in Bombyx mori. In this study, a BmSGF1 G4 homozygous mutant was generated with the G4 sequence knocked out.

Ratio of the Primers Used in Polymerase Chain Reaction-Stop Analysis Impacts the Resultant Banding Pattern.

G-quadruplex (G4), as a dynamic nucleic acid secondary structure, widely exists in organism genomes and plays regulatory roles in a variety of cellular functions. Polymerase chain reaction stop assay (PCR-Stop) is a simple, quick, and low-cost widely used method for detection of the binding between G4 and its binding compounds. Different from the common PCR approach, no double-stranded DNA template is needed in the PCR-Stop assay, in which the forward and reverse primers extend against each other in the presence of DNA polymerase to produce a single DNA product.

DNA G-quadruplex structure participates in regulation of lipid metabolism through acyl-CoA binding protein.

G-quadruplex structure (G4) is a type of DNA secondary structure that widely exists in the genomes of many organisms. G4s are believed to participate in multiple biological processes. Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, plays important roles in lipid metabolism by transporting and protecting acyl-CoA esters.

Effect of G-quadruplex loop mutations on the G-quadruplex formation, protein binding and transcription of BmPOUM2 in Bombyx mori.

A G-quadruplex (G4) was identified in the promoter of transcription factor BmPOUM2 in Bombyx mori. This G4 structure contains three loops and is bound by transcription factor BmLARK, facilitating the transcription of BmPOUM2. However, the relationship between the structure and function of the BmPOUM2 G4 remains to be clarified.

G-Quadruplex Regulation of mRNA Translation by RBM4.

In eukaryotes, mRNAs translation is mainly mediated in a cap-dependent or cap-independent manner. The latter is primarily initiated at the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5'-UTR of mRNAs. It has been reported that the G-quadruplex structure (G4) in the IRES elements could regulate the IRES activity.

Large-scale screening of i-motif binding compounds in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

DNA secondary structure i-motif involves in gene transcription and considered as a novel target for cancer gene therapy. I-motif-binding compounds can either stabilize or destroy the structure, resulting in change in target gene transcription. In this study, a large-scale screening of binding compounds was conducted using the i-motif structure of BmPOUM2, a transcription factor in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Gene expression profiling in peripheral blood lymphocytes for major depression: preliminary cues from Chinese discordant sib-pair study.

The etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) involves many factors such as heredity and environment. There are very few MDD-related studies in Chinese population using twin or sib-pairs for depression-control samples. Here we used the microarray approach and compared gene expression profiling of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 6 sib-pairs discordant on lifetime history of MDD.

Genome-wide analysis of DNA G-quadruplex motifs across 37 species provides insights into G4 evolution.

G-quadruplex (G4) structures have been predicted in the genomes of many organisms and proven to play regulatory roles in diverse cellular activities. However, there is little information on the evolutionary history and distribution characteristics of G4s. Here, whole-genome characteristics of potential G4s were studied in 37 evolutionarily representative species.

Identification of binding domains and key amino acids involved in the interaction between BmLARK and G4 structure in the BmPOUM2 promoter in Bombyx mori.

It has been found that the non-B form DNA structures, like G-quadruplex (G4) and i-motif, are involved in many important biological processes. Our previous study showed that the silkworm transcription factor BmLARK binds to the G4 structure in the promoter of the transcription factor BmPOUM2 and regulates its promoter activity. However, the binding mechanism between BmLARK and BmPOUM2 G4 structure remains unclear.

In vivo visualization of the i-motif DNA secondary structure in the Bombyx mori testis.

Background: A large number of in vitro experiments have confirmed that DNA molecules can form i-motif advanced structure when multiple cytosines exist in the sequence. However, whether these structures are present in vivo environment still lacks sufficient experimental evidence.

Results: In this paper, we report the in vivo visualization of i-motif structures in the nuclei and chromosomes of the testis of the invertebrate Bombyx mori using immunofluorescence staining with an antibody specifically recognizing the endogenous transcription factor BmILF, which binds i-motif structure with high specificity.

BmILF and i-motif structure are involved in transcriptional regulation of BmPOUM2 in Bombyx mori.

Guanine-rich and cytosine-rich DNA can form four-stranded DNA secondary structures called G-quadruplex (G4) and i-motif, respectively. These structures widely exist in genomes and play important roles in transcription, replication, translation and protection of telomeres. In this study, G4 and i-motif structures were identified in the promoter of the transcription factor gene BmPOUM2, which regulates the expression of the wing disc cuticle protein gene (BmWCP4) during metamorphosis.

BmBR-C Z4 is an upstream regulatory factor of BmPOUM2 controlling the pupal specific expression of BmWCP4 in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)-induced expression of the wing disc cuticle protein gene BmWCP4 was mediated by the transcription factor BmPOUM2, which binds to the cis-response elements (CREs) of BmWCP4 gene in Bombyx mori. In this study we report the regulation of BmPOUM2. RT-PCR analysis indicated that in response to 20E, BmPOUM2 was expressed at higher levels in the wing discs during the pre-pupal and mid-pupal stages than other stages and the expression pattern of BmBR-C Z1, BmBR-C Z2 and BmBR-C Z4 was in tandem with the expression of BmPOUM2.