Ecdysone Responsiveness of Several Cell Lines Derived from Bombyx mori

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out ecdysone responsive cells among established cell lines of Bombyx mori, and to obtain cells to clarify the regulatory mechanism of ecdysone responsive cuticle protein genes. Four cell lines were selected to examine the ecdysone-responsiveness. The aggregation of cells was observed after 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) treatment, in cell lines of NBO1, NBO2 and NBS1228. The expression of E75A and BHR3 genes increased by the addition of 20E, and the existence of JHA accelerated the ecdysone-induced strength of the signals. The results of the real time PCR revealed that the addition of 20E strongly induced ecdysone responsive genes, E75A, BHR3 and mg-0560 EST clone. Expression of two cuticle protein genes, BmWCP2 and BmWCP10, was observed with or without 20E in the cells, but it was observed stage specifically in wing discs of Bombyx mori. We identified ecdysone responsive and cuticle-protein gene expressible cell lines of B. mori, and they will be used for the hormonal research.