Detoxification Mechanisms in Silkworms: A Comprehensive Review of Molecular Responses to Xenobiotic Stress

Abstract

Silkworms, particularly Bombyx mori, have long been recognized for their economic importance in sericulture, yet their molecular resilience to environmental xenobiotics remains a growing field of interest. This review comprehensively summarizes the current understanding of detoxification mechanisms in silkworms, emphasizing the roles of key enzyme families such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs), carboxylesterases (CarbEs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. The activation of these detoxification genes in response to insecticides, heavy metals, and plant allelochemicals reveals the silkworm’s dynamic molecular adaptations. We also highlight tissue-specific and developmental expression patterns, regulatory pathways including transcription factors and miRNAs, and the interplay between oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolism. Beyond the domesticated silkworm, comparative insights from wild species such as Antheraea pernyi suggest conserved detoxification frameworks across Lepidoptera. The integration of transcriptomics and functional genomics is unraveling complex detoxification networks and aiding the development of pesticide-resistant silkworm strains. This synthesis offers a foundation for future genetic and biotechnological advancements in silkworm breeding, environmental risk assessment, and pest management strategies.