Gene expression analysis from phoxim-induced domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) by whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray

In order to investigate the gene expression of domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) exposed to phoxim, we used a whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray to survey the B. mori larvae induced by phoxim [O,O-diethyl O-(alpha-cyanobenzylideneamino) phosphorothioate] after 24 h, and examined the gene expression profile. The results showed that, 6177 genes expressed in the tested B. mori larvae, and 247 genes were differentially transcribed in the phoxim-induced group compared to the control group. Among these differentially expressed genes, 68 genes were up-regulated and 179 genes were down-regulated after phoxim-induced and the highest changes were 26-fold up-regulated and 29-fold down-regulated, respectively. Analysis result of the differentially expressed genes indicates that their functions could be divided into 10 categories. The up-regulated genes are mainly involved in glycometabolism, fat metabolism, protein hydrolysis electron transfer process and the down-regulated genes are mainly involved in cell division, transcriptional regulation, intracellular signaling cascade. In this study, we firstly reported the whole-genome transcribed expression profile of the B. mori larvae induced by phomix and provided the gene source for studying the metabolic detoxicification mechanisms to organophosphorus by Bombyx mandarina and other Lepidoptera insects.

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► We present the gene expression of phoxim-induced silkworm by genome microarray.
► We found 247 genes were differentially transcribed in the tested and control groups.
► In the phoxim-induced group, 68 genes were up-regulated and 179 were down-regulated.
► The functions of differentially expressed genes could be divided into 10 categories.
► Genes involved in the basal metabolic pathways had changed after phoxim-induction.