BmHpo mutation induces smaller body size and late stage larval lethality in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9) to studyHpo gene (BmHpo) function in the lepidopteran insectBombyx mori, known commonly as the silkworm. Sequence analysis ofBmHpo revealed an array of deletions in mutants. We found thatBmHpo knockout resulted in defects in body size regulation, in developmental defects and pigment accumulation and early death. Our data show thatBmHpo is essential for regulation of insect growth and development and that CRISPR/Cas9 technology can serve as a basis for functional analysis of target genes in lepidopteran insects.

Source: Insect Science - November 22, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: Xia Xu, Hong ‐Lun Bi, Zhong‐Jie Zhang, Yang Yang, Kai Li, Yong‐Ping Huang, Yong Zhang, Lin He Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research