家蚕的性别决定分子机制研究进展

Advance in Molecule Mechanism of Silkworm Sex Determination

家蚕属于雌杂合型生物,性别决定于胚胎细胞染色体组中W染色体的有无,凡有W染色体的个体均为雌性,记为ZW型,雄性为ZZ型。深度测序发现位于家蚕W染色体的雌性决定基因Fem通过piRNA途径决定家蚕性别,位于Z染色体的Masc基因调控雄性胚胎的剂量补偿与决定Bmdsx的雄特异性剪切。本文主要介绍家蚕W染色体上Fem基因的发现及作为性别决定初始信号的作用,以及雄性Z染色体存在的剂量补偿机制和几个性别决定基因的级联调控关系等,并简要分析了该领域仍需要深入研究的内容。

The silkworm（ Bombyx mori） is a female heterogametic organism. The sex of silkworm is determined by W chromosome in genome of embryonic cells. The female individual has W chromosome and its genotype is ZW,while that of male is ZZ. Deep sequencing indicated that female sex determining gene（ Fem） in W chromosome controls the sex of silkworm by producing PIWI-interacting RNAs（ piRNAs）. In addition,Masc gene which locates on Z chromosome regulates both dosage compensation in male embryos and male-specific splicing of Bmdsx gene. In this article,we reviewed the discovery process of Fem gene and its role as the primary signal in sex determination of silkworm,the dosage compensation of Z chromosome in male embryos,and cascade regulation of several sex determining genes etc. What＇s more,this article briefly analyzed the issues in this area which need further in-depth researches.