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BmECM25, from the silkworm Bombyx mori, is an extracellular matrix protein
Ziliang Zou1, Yunmin Xu1, Bi Ma1
1State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
Abstract:
BmECM25 (previously reported as BmVMP25) was previously predicted as a gene encoding the vitelline membrane protein in silkworm, Bombyx mori. In this study, we investigated the detail temporal and spatial patterns of BmECM25 protein. Western blot results showed that BmECM25 was expressed in the follicular epithelium cells from stages -6 to +1, and was then secreted into the oocytes. However, the abundance of BmECM25 decreased during the subsequent oogenesis and finally disappeared in the mature follicles. Immunofluorescence detection showed that BmECM25 locates inside the VM layer and forms a discontinuous layer. These features of BmECM25 suggest that it is an oocyte membrane matrix protein, not a vitelline membrane protein.
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