Fig. 8: Depicting the composition of major cell types in silkworm silk glands.
From: A single-cell transcriptomic atlas characterizes the silk-producing organ in the silkworm
Cell types in the anterior silk gland, middle silk gland, and posterior silk gland are distinguished in light brown, gold, and white, respectively. Liquid silk fibrosis cells (LSFs), sericin protein-synthesizing cells (SPSs), endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling cells (ERSSs), and fibroin protein-synthesizing cells (FPSs) appeared at E8D; LSFs, SPSs, FPSs, and traction forces cells (TRs) appeared at 1L1D; SPSs, FPSs, epithelial cell remodeling cells (ECRs), chitin metabolism cells (CMs), sericin protein catabolism cells (SPCs), death and remodeling regulation cells (DRRs), and fibroin protein catabolism cells (FPCs) appeared at 1LM. Interestingly, ERSSs were E8D-specific, TRs were 1L1D-specific, and ECRs, CMs, SPCs, DRRs, and FPCs were 1LM-specific. The black arrow represents the direction of silk protein transport and the red arrowhead represents shear force. Magnified images of the corresponding silk glands are shown in black panes (both sides). An enlarged view of single cell at 1LM modulated by 20E signaling is shown on the right. Blue dots: silk fibroin; red dots: sericin; APS: autophagosome; LSS: lysosome. E8D 8 days post-egg laying, 1L1D day 1 of the first instar, 1LM first larval molting.
