Mechanisms of BmSERCA-Mediated Cell Proliferation Through Ca2+ Homeostasis Regulation

Abstract

Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) plays a critical role in maintaining intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis by transporting excess Ca²⁺ into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium reservoir. Calcium is essential for regulating key biological processes in Bombyx mori, including development, metamorphosis, and reproduction. To explore the role of BmSERCA in the proliferation of the B. mori ovary cell line (BmN), intracellular Ca²⁺ levels were measured following BmSERCA interference. At 48 h post-interference, intracellular Ca²⁺ levels increased significantly by 1.38 times. Moreover, transcript levels of genes involved in cell proliferation and division exhibited notable changes. Phenotypic assessments further demonstrated that BmSERCA interference significantly accelerated the proliferation and migration of BmN cells, with a marked increase in EdU-positive cells. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that BmSERCA interference notably affected the cell cycle by inducing G2/M phase accumulation and elevating the expression of G2/M phase regulators, including BmCyclinB and BmCDK1. Collectively, these findings suggested that BmSERCA interference disrupted intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis, thereby promoting BmN cell proliferation. This study provided a valuable foundation for understanding the role of BmSERCA in BmN cell proliferation.