Temporal and spatial control of silk gene transcription analyzed by nuclear run-on assays.

In vivo transcriptional activity of the Bombyx mori fibroin and sericin genes was estimated by nuclear run-on assay. Tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression of the fibroin and sericin genes through larval development was shown to be primarily regulated at the level of transcription. The expression patterns of these two genes are quite different in their developmental profile, suggesting that they are probably regulated by different underlying mechanisms. A finer spatial control of transcription could be found. The sericin gene transcription is mostly restricted to the posterior region of the middle silk gland throughout the fifth larval instar. Interestingly, the fibroin gene transcription is observed only in the anterior region of the posterior silk gland on the first day of the fifth instar, and spreads toward the posterior region as the fifth instar stage proceeds.