BmApontic is involved in neurodevelopment in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Abstract The nervous system of the silkworm is vital for the development of organisms. It achieves and maintains normal life activities by regulating the function of the organs and all kinds of physiological processes in the silkworm. BmApontic (BmApt), as an important bZIP transcription factor, is required for the formation of pigmentation in the silkworm. However, the function of BmApt in the development of the nervous system of the silkworm remains unclear. Here, we showed that amino acid sequence of BmApt was evolutionarily conserved in its Myb/SANT motif and basic DNA binding domain. BmApt was expressed in the nervous system at the embryonic stage. Knockdown of Bmapt by RNA interference resulted in abnormal development of axons. Moreover, the expression of BmnetrinA, BmnetrinB and Bmfrazzled was decreased in the Bmapt knockdown embryos. These results demonstrate that BmApt controls neurodevelopment by activating the expression of Bmnetrin and Bmfrazzled.