Bombyx mori UFL1 facilitates BmNPV proliferation by regulating host cell apoptosis through PERK

Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1) is attached to protein substrates through the sequential activity of an E1 (UBA5)-E2 (UFC1)-E3 (UFL1) cascade. UFL1 is the E3 ligase for UFMylation in vertebrates. However, there have been no studies on UFL1 in silkworm to date. In this study, we identified a UFL1 ortholog in Bombyx mori genome. Spatio-temporal expression profiles showed that BmUFL1 expression was high in the midgut, epidermis, and testis and in the pupa-adult stage. BmUFL1 knockdown inhibited B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) proliferation, while BmUFL1 overexpression promoted BmNPV proliferation. Mechanically, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) signaling and cell apoptosis are involved in BmUFL1-regulated BmNPV proliferation. Overall, these results suggest that BmUFL1 facilitates BmNPV proliferation in silkworm.