以家蚕和野桑蚕为研究对象，以受蜕皮激素和保幼激素调控的蛹期翅原基表皮几丁质蛋白BmWCPs基因为主要研究模型，采用分子生物学、发育生物学、转录组学和蛋白组学等方法，研究激素信号传导途径对家蚕变态发育调控的分子机理，分析家蚕与野桑蚕翅原基发育过程中的差异基因，并尝试通过转基因技术获得蛹期延长的家蚕品系。研究内容包括：1）蜕皮激素信号传导途径对家蚕翅原基发育的分子调控；2）保幼激素信号传导途径对家蚕翅原基发育的分子调控；3）其它核转录因子对家蚕和野桑蚕翅原基发育的影响；4）家蚕和野桑蚕翅原基变态发育的转录组学和蛋白组学分析；5）蛹期延长的转基因家蚕素材构建。研究对阐释昆虫变态发育分子调控机制，解释家蚕与野桑蚕翅原基发育的差异及其对飞翔能力影响等科学问题具有重要意义，并为利用BmWCPs基因蛹期专一表达的特性以延长蚕蛹发育，解决成虫过早破茧而出、降低蚕丝质量的重大生产问题提供理论指导。

Based on a research model of ecdysone and juvenile hormone regulation of wing disc cuticle protein (BmWCPs), this project will study the molecular mechanisms of hormone signal transduction pathways in regulation of metamorphosis in the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) and wild silkworm (B. mandarina) by using approaches of molecular biology, developmental biology, transcriptomics, proteomics and biotechnology. It will determine the differences in gene and protein expression in the wing dics between B. mori and B. mandarina. It will also try to develop silkworm strain with elongated pupal stage by transgenetic method. The research contents include: 1) molecualr regulation of B. mori wing disc development by ecdysone hormone signal transduction pathway; 2) molecualr regulation of B. mori wing disc development by juvenile hormone signal transduction pathway; 3) effects of other nuclear transcription factors on the development of the B. mori wing disc; 4) transcriptomics and proteomics analysis of the wing dics of B. mori and B. mandarina during metamorphosis and 5) construction of transgenetic silkworm with elgonated pupal stage. The study is important in explanation of the molecular mechanisms of insect metamorphosis, differences in wing disc development of B. mori and B. mandarina and its effects on the flight ability. The study will also play a role in generation of silkworm strains with elongated pupal stage by taking the advantage of the character of pupa-specific expression of BmWCPs genes to solve the issue of silk damage due to the early emergence of an adult from a cocoon.