부산대학교 도서관

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short, non‐coding transcripts that bind to 3′‐untranslated regions to trigger messenger RNA degradation or translational inhibition. Here we explored how miRNAs regulate sex determination in Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect. Genes known to be involved in sex determination, BmPSI, Bmdsx, and BmMasc, are predicted targets of the species‐specific miR‐2738. Using a dual luciferase reporter assay in HEK293T cells, we confirmed that miR‐2738 suppressed transcription of BmPSI, Bmdsx, and BmMasc. The levels of BmPSI and BmMasc were significantly down‐regulated in B. mori miR‐2738 overexpression. In contrast, the genetic disruption of miR‐2738 using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 transgenic system increased the levels of BmPSI and BmMasc transcripts, whereas splicing of Bmdsx was unaltered by miR‐2738 depletion or overexpression. Taken together, this study implicates miR‐2738 as a minor regulator of sex determination genes in the silkworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]