The extramacrochaetae gene is required for blastokinesis in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Abstract

In silkworm, Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), blastokinesis results in embryo reversal from ventrally to dorsally convex flexion. In this study, we showed that the extramacrochaetae (emc) gene is required for blastokinesis in silkworm. Depletion of Bmemc expression via RNA interference led to severe phenotypic defects in blastokinesis. The defective embryos failed to invert their body sides during blastokinesis. This caused the posterior half of the abdomen to abnormally fold back toward the dorsal side, forming a U-shaped morphology. Dorsal closure was also disrupted. Our results suggest that Bmemc is involved in blastokinesis of silkworm embryos. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 405-409, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.