Two adenine nucleotide translocase paralogues involved in cell proliferation and spermatogenesis in the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) specifically acts in ADP/ATP exchange through the mitochondrial inner membrane. This transporter protein thereby plays a significant role in energy metabolism in eukaryotic cells. Most mammals have four paralogous ANT genes (ANT1-4) and utilize these paralogues in different types of cells.

Characterization and analysis of novel carboxyl/cholinesterase genes possessing the Thr-316 motif in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Juvenile hormone esterases (JHEs) function in juvenile hormone (JH) degradation. In the silkworm, Bombyx mori, we have characterized authentic JHE (Bmjhe) and five other carboxyl/cholinesterase (CCE) genes (Bmcce-1 to -5) with GQSAG, a motif sequence of JHE. But none of the genes appeared to function in vivo as a JHE, except for Bmjhe.

Characterization of juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase and related genes in the larval development of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolases (JHEHs) are a family of enzymes that hydrolyze juvenile hormones (JHs). They are important in terms of organ-specific regulation and irreversible degradation. In contrast to three JHEH genes (jheh) in Drosophila melanogaster and five jheh in Tribolium castaneum, only one jheh gene has been reported to date in lepidopteran insects.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of novel carboxyl/cholinesterases with GQSAG motif in the silkworm Bombyx mori.

We have previously cloned and characterized BmJHE, a juvenile hormone (JH)-selective esterase (JHE) that is important for JH titer regulation in the silkworm Bombyx mori. Here, we sought to determine whether multiple genes might function as JH-specific esterase in this species. We searched for putative carboxyl/cholinesterase (CCE) genes having GQSAG, a highly conserved motif in JHE, by the use of silkworm genomic database.

Identification and expression analysis of ras gene in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Ras proteins play important roles in development especially for cell proliferation and differentiation in various organisms. However, their functions in the most insect species are still not clear. We identified three ras cDNAs from the silk worm, Bombyx mori.

Removal of empty capsids from type 1 adeno-associated virus vector stocks by anion-exchange chromatography potentiates transgene expression.

Production of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) results in substantial quantities of empty capsids or virus-like particles (VLPs), virus protein shells without the vector genome. The contaminating VLPs would interfere with transduction by competing for cell-surface receptors and, when administered in vivo, contribute to antigen load, which may elicit a stronger immune response. Density-gradient ultracentrifugation provides a means to separate VLPs from rAAV particles, but is not feasible for large-scale preparations of vectors.

Scalable generation of high-titer recombinant adeno-associated virus type 5 in insect cells.

We established a method for production of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 5 (rAAV5) in insect cells by use of baculovirus expression vectors. One baculovirus harbors a transgene between the inverted terminal repeat sequences of type 5, and the second expresses Rep78 and Rep52. Interestingly, the replacement of type 5 Rep52 with type 1 Rep52 generated four times more rAAV5 particles.