Abstract
We examined the Bombyx mori (silkworm) white gene, Bmwh3, for its possible utility as a transgenesis marker in the B. mori Aojuku white-egg translucent mutant (w-3ol) strain. To express wild-type Bmwh3 in the w-3ol strain, we used the GAL4/UAS system. The A3-GAL4 strain used drives expression of the transgene under the control of the UAS throughout all tissues at all stages. Whereas wild-type silkworms have dark brown eggs, opaque white larval integuments, and dark brown eyes, the w-3ol mutants have white eggs, translucent larval integuments, and light brown eyes. Transgenic expression of Bmwh3 in w-3ol mutant silkworms restored the morphology of the larval integument by increasing the uric acid content to near normal and partially restored the dark brown phenotype of the compound eye by slightly increasing the accumulation of ommochrome pigment. Eggs transgenically expressing Bmwh3 were brown/white mosaics. Thus, when linked to a strong promoter, Bmwh3 is likely to be a useful marker for transgenic screening of B. mori.
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