Fig. 2.

Expression profiles and effects of siRNA of Bm8846, Bmspz-3, and Bmago-3 in the larval epidermis. (A) Temporal expression patterns of three genes in the epidermis from the third to fourth ecdysis (n = 3 in each period and strain) are shown for the Ze mutant (Left: Bm8846, Center: Bmspz-3, Right: Bmago-3 in Upper) and the WT strain (Left: Bm8846, Center: Bmspz-3, Right: Bmago-3 in Lower). Expression of the BmrpL3 gene was used as an internal control. The black circles and white diamonds indicate the pigmented and nonpigmented areas of the Ze mutant (or the corresponding areas of the WT strain), respectively, which are shown as red and blue boxes in the abdominal third segment, respectively. E, ecdysis; HCS, head capsule slippage; P, pigmentation period. (B) Phenotypic changes by knockdown of the candidate genes in the larva and cuticle specimen on the abdominal third and fourth segments in the Ze mutant are shown. Dashed lines illustrate the position of the dorsal midline. (Scale bars: 2 mm.) (C) Relative expression levels of genes targeted by siRNA were compared between the introduced (+) and nonintroduced (‒) sides. Statistical comparisons were conducted using the one-sided paired Student’s t test. Error bars indicate the SD.