Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Gene Silencing Research in Silkworms with dsRNA Delivery Through Feeding Chitosan Nanoparticles
05:36

Author Spotlight: Advancing Gene Silencing Research in Silkworms with dsRNA Delivery Through Feeding Chitosan Nanoparticles

Published on: October 4, 2024

1.8K

Bombyx mori PAT4 gene inhibits BmNPV infection and replication through autophagy

Kaifang Jia1, Jinyang Wang1, Dan Jiang1

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China; Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Scientific Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang 212100, China.

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
|November 23, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The proton-assisted amino acid transporter 4 (PAT4) in silkworms inhibits Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) replication. This transporter activates BmTORC1, suppressing autophagy and limiting resources for viral proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Insect Science

Background:

  • Proton-assisted amino acid transporter 4 (PAT4) is part of the solute carrier (SLC) 36 family, involved in amino acid transport.
  • The specific role of PAT4 in Bombyx mori (silkworm) remained unclear prior to this study.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clone and characterize the Bombyx mori PAT4 (BmPAT4) gene.
  • To investigate the function of BmPAT4 in response to Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) infection.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which BmPAT4 influences viral replication and cellular pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used for BmPAT4 gene cloning and identification.
  • Bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine sequence characteristics, including transmembrane domains.
  • BmPAT4 expression levels were analyzed in different tissues and under viral infection.
  • Gene silencing (RNA interference) and overexpression techniques were employed in BmN cells.
  • Autophagy pathway gene expression was assessed using quantitative methods.

Main Results:

  • BmPAT4 was cloned, revealing an open reading frame of 1,395 bp encoding 464 amino acids, with ten transmembrane domains.
  • BmPAT4 exhibits high sequence similarity to related insect species and is localized in the cell membrane, expressed across all silkworm tissues.
  • BmNPV infection significantly upregulated BmPAT4 expression in the midgut, hemolymph, and fat body.
  • Overexpression of BmPAT4 inhibited BmNPV proliferation and decreased autophagy gene expression, while RNA interference promoted viral replication and increased autophagy gene expression.
  • BmPAT4 activates BmTORC1, which subsequently inhibits autophagy, thereby restricting resources for BmNPV.

Conclusions:

  • BmPAT4 plays a crucial role in the silkworm's antiviral defense against BmNPV.
  • The antiviral mechanism involves BmPAT4-mediated activation of BmTORC1, leading to autophagy inhibition.
  • This study provides the first evidence of BmPAT4's antiviral activity in silkworms, offering insights into host-pathogen interactions.
Keywords:
AntiviralBmNPVBmTORC1Bombyx moriCellular autophagyPAT4

More Related Videos

Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors06:02

Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors

Published on: September 13, 2018

6.8K
siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells09:10

siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

Published on: October 28, 2019

7.2K

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.5K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
6.4K