Functional analysis of the larval serum protein gene promoter from silkworm Bombyx mori.

The regulation region of larval serum protein gene, Bombyx mori. (BmLSP), consisting of the first intron, the first exon, the central promoter region and 5’-upstream region, is cloned from genomic DNA from the silkworm variety of Suju × Minghu. Using PCR and restriction endonuclease methods, a series of luciferase reporter plasmids, driven by different length of BmLSP promoters, are constructed. Via the transient expression system in BmN cells, the effects of the regulation elements and foreign insect hormones on the BmLSP promoter activity are investigated. The results demonstrate that the promoter activity of BmLSP is 5.8- or 4.4-fold higher than that of BmLSPs whose first intron or the element in 5’-upstream region harboring the homologous sequence with the first intron of light-chain fibroin gene (EHIF) is deleted, respectively, suggesting that both the first intron and EHIF contain the main positive cis-acting elements. However, the inactive mariner transposable element (MTE) in 5 ’-upstream region presents a negative effect. Furthermore, the effects of juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) on the BmLSP promoter activity show a typical dose-dependent manner, that is, low concentration treatments increase the BmLSP promoter activity and high concentration treatments decrease it. Meanwhile, insect ecdysone (MH) treatments present no significant effect.