Analysis of Hemocyte-specific Gene Expression from Bombyx mori

Abstract

A previous data was provided information for tissuespecific expression genes by means of whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray in the silkworm. We analyzed the tissue-specific expression patterns in the hemocyte tissue on 5 days of 5th instar larvae during the development of <TEX>$B.$</TEX> <TEX>$mori$</TEX>. Total 5 candidates pick out from the <TEX>$Bombyx$</TEX> <TEX>$mori$</TEX> Microarray Database (BmMDB; http://silkworm.swu.edu.cn/microarray). To verify the hemocyte-specific expression, we analyzed by semi-quantitative and real-time quantitative RT-PCR using the highly expressed endogenous <TEX>$Actin$</TEX> RNA as an intrinsic reference. In this study, we confirmed that one gene-sw17255- out of 5 candidates expressed in the hemocyte tissue, which was consistent with the previous data. Circulating hemocytes in the body fluid of the <TEX>$B.$</TEX> <TEX>$mori$</TEX> are most powerful target organ for producing biomaterials. We need further studies to find hemocyte-specific promoter region from sw17255 gene. Finally, this result can be applied in creating transgenic silkworms as a biomedical insect.