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Fig. 3 | BMC Genomics

Fig. 3

From: Analysis of gene expression in the midgut of Bombyx mori during the larval molting stage

Fig. 3

Digestive enzymes in the molting midguts and contents. The supernatants of cell lysates from midguts at different developmental stages were subjected to analysis for aminopeptidase N (a), saccharase (b), and alkaline phosphatase (c) activities, respectively. For each assay, approximately 50 μg of total protein were utilized. Activities of each enzyme were decreased toward the middle time point (IV-M: 12 h) of the molting stage and then enzyme activities subsequently increased. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly lower at 12 h post molting than at other time points. d Protease activities in the midgut contents were detected using a native gel as described [30]. Lane 1 to Lane 5 are midgut contents from larvae at IV-3:12 h, IV-M: 0 h, IV-M: 12 h, IV-M: 18 h and V-1:0 h stages, respectively. For each lane, approximately 12 μl of midgut contents after suspension and centrifugation were loaded. e Transcription of genes encoding proteases in the midguts of larvae at different developmental stages were assayed by qRT-PCR. The transcription of these proteases was down-regulated to a very low level during the molting stage. During feeding stages, these genes were expressed at high levels. Each column represents the mean of three independent measurements  ±  S.E.M

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