Apoptosis-related long non-coding RNA LINC5438 of Bombyx mori promotes the proliferation of BmNPV

• Published in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology Vol. 191; p. 105380
• Main Authors: Chen, Peng, Cai, Min, Feng, Yu-Jie, Li, Cong, Dong, Zhan-Qi, Xiao, Wen-Fu, Tang, Liang, Zhu, Yan, Tian, Ting, Deng, Bo-Yuan, Pan, Min-Hui, Lu, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; BmNPV; Bombyx - metabolism; Bombyx mori; Cell Proliferation; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; LINC5438; Long non-coding RNA; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; Bombyx mori; LINC5438; BmNPV; Apoptosis; Long non-coding RNA
• ISSN: 0048-3575; 1095-9939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105380

Apoptosis, as an important part of the immune response, is one of the core events in the host-virus interaction. Studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the process of cell apoptosis and pathophysiology. To investigate the apoptosis-related lncRNAs involved in Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infecting silkworms, transcriptome sequencing was conducted based on silkworm cells infected with BmNPV before and after B. mori inhibitor of apoptosis (Bmiap) gene knockout. A total of 23 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified as being associated with the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that B. mori LINC5438 has the function of inhibiting apoptosis in silkworm cells. Overexpression of LINC5438 promoted the proliferation of BmNPV, while interference with LINC5438 inhibited its proliferation, indicating that LINC5438 plays an important role in BmNPV infection. Our results also showed that LINC5438 can regulate the expression of Bmiap, BmDronc, BmICE, and its predicted target gene BmAIF, suggesting that LINC5438 may function through the mitochondrial pathway. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of virus-host interaction and the applications of baculoviruses as biological insecticides. [Display omitted] •A total of 23 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified as being associated with the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.•Bombyx mori LINC5438 has the function of inhibiting apoptosis in silkworm cells.•LINC5438 plays an important role in BmNPV infection.•LINC5438 provides a meaningful object for pathological research of silkworm.