Abstract Yolk proteins are the main source of nutrients during embryonic and early larval development in oviparous animals. Therefore, vitellogenesis is crucial for reproduction. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a model lepidopteran insect in which there are three yolk proteins: vitellin, 30‐kDa protein, and egg‐specific protein (Esp). In this study, we explored the gene function of Esp through transgenic clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR‐associated protein 9 technology‐mediated mutations in the silkworm. We found that Esp mutation resulted in female sterility but had no effect on male fertility. Female mutants could lay eggs after mating, but the eggs were smaller and lighter colored than those laid by wild‐type females. The most important finding is that the eggs laid by female mutants did not hatch. Furthermore, we observed stable inheritance of female sterility caused by Esp mutation through successive generations. Thus, Esp encodes a yolk protein that is crucial for female reproductive success and is a potential target for pest control.
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机译：摘要 卵黄蛋白是卵生动物胚胎发育和幼体发育早期的主要营养来源。因此，卵黄生成对繁殖至关重要。家蚕 Bombyx mori 是一种模式鳞翅目昆虫，其中有三种卵黄蛋白：卵黄蛋白、30-kDa 蛋白和卵特异性蛋白 （Esp）。在这项研究中，我们通过转基因成簇的规则间隔回文重复序列（CRISPR）/CRISPR相关蛋白9技术介导的蚕基因功能探索了Esp的基因功能。我们发现Esp突变导致女性不育，但对男性生育能力没有影响。雌性突变体可以在交配后产卵，但卵比野生型雌性产卵更小、颜色更浅。最重要的发现是雌性突变体产下的卵没有孵化。此外，我们观察到由Esp突变引起的雌性不育的连续遗传稳定。因此，Esp 编码的卵黄蛋白对雌性生殖成功至关重要，并且是害虫防治的潜在靶标。
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