Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation

Estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) are important transcription factors within the nuclear receptor family that regulate cellular energy storage and consumption by binding to estrogen-related receptor response elements (ERREs) on gene promoters. While ERRs’ role in vertebrates is well-studied, their m...

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Main Authors: Luyu Hou, Jinxin Wu, Die Liu, Haoran Xu, Hongbo Yao, Yiwen Liang, Qingyou Xia, Ping Lin, Guanwang Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/469
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author Luyu Hou
Jinxin Wu
Die Liu
Haoran Xu
Hongbo Yao
Yiwen Liang
Qingyou Xia
Ping Lin
Guanwang Shen
author_facet Luyu Hou
Jinxin Wu
Die Liu
Haoran Xu
Hongbo Yao
Yiwen Liang
Qingyou Xia
Ping Lin
Guanwang Shen
author_sort Luyu Hou
collection DOAJ
description Estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) are important transcription factors within the nuclear receptor family that regulate cellular energy storage and consumption by binding to estrogen-related receptor response elements (ERREs) on gene promoters. While ERRs’ role in vertebrates is well-studied, their molecular mechanisms in insect metabolism and development remain unclear. This study systematically summarizes the functions of ERRs in insects, focusing on silkworms by analyzing gene functions and comparing databases. ERRE-like elements were identified in the 2000 bp upstream promoter regions of 69 metabolism-related silkworm genes. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed that ERREs within the promoters of 15 genes related to sugar, fat, and protein metabolism specifically bind to ERR. Notably, an ERRE in the promoter of the trehalose transporter 1 gene (<i>BmTret1</i>), crucial for trehalose homeostasis in insect hemolymph, exhibited significantly enhanced activity in ERR-overexpressing cells. These findings suggest that ERR is a potential regulatory factor in silkworm metabolism and refine its metabolic regulatory network. This study highlights the broader and more critical role of ERR in insects than that previously recognized, contributing to a deeper understanding of insect metabolism and its potential applications in related fields.
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spelling doaj-art-0d0ae6afceef44ecb4e5258751a1af672025-08-20T01:56:19ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116546910.3390/insects16050469Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic RegulationLuyu Hou0Jinxin Wu1Die Liu2Haoran Xu3Hongbo Yao4Yiwen Liang5Qingyou Xia6Ping Lin7Guanwang Shen8Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaBiological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaEstrogen-related receptors (ERRs) are important transcription factors within the nuclear receptor family that regulate cellular energy storage and consumption by binding to estrogen-related receptor response elements (ERREs) on gene promoters. While ERRs’ role in vertebrates is well-studied, their molecular mechanisms in insect metabolism and development remain unclear. This study systematically summarizes the functions of ERRs in insects, focusing on silkworms by analyzing gene functions and comparing databases. ERRE-like elements were identified in the 2000 bp upstream promoter regions of 69 metabolism-related silkworm genes. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed that ERREs within the promoters of 15 genes related to sugar, fat, and protein metabolism specifically bind to ERR. Notably, an ERRE in the promoter of the trehalose transporter 1 gene (<i>BmTret1</i>), crucial for trehalose homeostasis in insect hemolymph, exhibited significantly enhanced activity in ERR-overexpressing cells. These findings suggest that ERR is a potential regulatory factor in silkworm metabolism and refine its metabolic regulatory network. This study highlights the broader and more critical role of ERR in insects than that previously recognized, contributing to a deeper understanding of insect metabolism and its potential applications in related fields.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/469estrogen-related receptorestrogen-related receptor response elementmetabolic regulationphysiological functionsilkworm
spellingShingle Luyu Hou
Jinxin Wu
Die Liu
Haoran Xu
Hongbo Yao
Yiwen Liang
Qingyou Xia
Ping Lin
Guanwang Shen
Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
Insects
estrogen-related receptor
estrogen-related receptor response element
metabolic regulation
physiological function
silkworm
title Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
title_full Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
title_fullStr Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
title_full_unstemmed Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
title_short Estrogen-Related Receptor Potential Target Genes in Silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>): Insights into Metabolic Regulation
title_sort estrogen related receptor potential target genes in silkworm i bombyx mori i insights into metabolic regulation
topic estrogen-related receptor
estrogen-related receptor response element
metabolic regulation
physiological function
silkworm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/469
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