The BTB-ZF gene Bm-mamo regulates pigmentation in silkworm caterpillars

Abstract

Color pattern of insects is one of the most dazzling adaptive evolutionary phenotypes. However, the molecular regulation of this color pattern is not clear. In this paper, we found a transcription factor, Bm-mamo, is responsible for bd (black dilute) allele mutants in silkworm. It belongs to BTB zinc finger family, and is ortholog to mamo of Drosophila melanogaster, which It is found that this gene has conservative function in gamete production, and evolved a pleiotropic function in regulation of color patterns in caterpillar. We found that the Bm-mamo can comprehensively regulate the expression of related pigment synthesis and cuticular protein genes to form color patterns. This suggests that the deposition of pigment particles in caterpillars’ epidermis requires not only the spatiotemporal expression of pigment synthesis genes, but also the correct expression of related cuticular protein genes. This study provides a new data for the setting of color patterns.