Mutation in the Bombyx mori BmGMC2 gene impacts silk production and silk protein synthesis

Abstract

Silk is a natural protein fiber that is predominantly comprised of fibroin and sericin. In addition, it contains seroins, protease inhibitors, enzymes, and other proteins. We found an ecdysone oxidase BmGMC2, notably, which is specifically and highly expressed only in the silk glands of silkworms (Bombyx mori L.). It is also one of the main components of non-cocoon silk, however, its precise function remains unclear. In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of this protein and obtained a homozygous mutant strain (K-GMC2) using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Compared to the wild-type strain (WT), the silk production and main silk proteins significantly decreased in the larval stage, and the adhesive strength of native silk proteins decreased in the final instar. Proteomic data indicated the abundance of ribosomal proteins decreased significantly in K-GMC2, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were enriched in pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases and genetic information processing, indicating that knockout may lead to a certain degree of cell stress, affecting the synthesis of silk proteins. This study investigated the expression pattern and gene function of ecdysone oxidase BmGMC2 in silk and silk glands, laying the groundwork for understanding the role of enzymes in the production of silk fibers.