Positional cloning and functional verification of the epidermal protein gene KWMTBOMO04384 in silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract

A body shape mutant n08M with sunken intersegmental membrane was found during the feeding process of silkworm WT-n08. Genetic analysis showed that the mutant trait of n08M is controlled by a recessive gene located at the autosome and follows Mendelian inheritance. Results of positional cloning showed that the epidermal protein gene KWMTBOMO04384 on chromosome 26 was mutated. After KWMTBOMO04384 was knocked out by CRISPR/Cas9, the intersegmental membrane of silkworm was sunken. KWMTBOMO04384 was the target gene that caused the sunken intersegmental membrane in WT-n08 and had an important influence on the body shape of Bombyx mori.