Abstract:

【Aim】 This study aims to improve the annotation of the genome of the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi, so as to expand its application to comparative genomics and breed improvement. 【Methods】 The full-length transcriptome of A. pernyi was sequenced and analyzed, and compared with the reference genome to identify novel genes and transcripts with functional annotation and to predict long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The gene models in the genome of A. pernyi were modified by thousands of novel protein-coding transcripts and lncRNAs. Finally, the corrected and merged annotation of the genome of A. pernyi was created. 【Results】 A total of 1 997 novel protein-coding genes and 3 399 novel lncRNA genes were discovered and supported by 2 402 and 3 574 full-length transcripts, respectively. The genome of A. pernyi contains 25 021 genes, including 19 825 protein-coding genes, from which seven juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase genes were identified. 【Conclusion】 This study improves our knowledge of the known genes in the genome of A. pernyi and provides valuable resources for comparative and functional genomic studies in A. pernyi and its relatives.

Key words: Antheraea pernyi, genome annotation, full-length transcriptome, protein-coding genes, lncRNA, juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase genes