Defense role of the cocoon in the silk worm Bombyx mori L

Silk from the domesticated silk worm Bombyx mori procures foreign body response naturally, so it has been utilized as a biomaterial for decades. In India the prime focus of the sericulture industry is to improve silk production with high quality silk. Naturally, the silk worm builds its cocoon not only with silk proteins, but also with antimicrobial proteins to avoid infection since the cocoon is non-motile and non-feeding. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the antimicrobial proteins that persist in the cocoon of the silk worm Bombyx mori. At the pupal stage, the silk worm cocoon shell extract was prepared from the day of pupation (P0) to the day of natural rupture of the cocoon for the eclosion of moth (NR). Using the cocoon shell extract a microbial susceptibility test was performed by the disc diffusion method against the microbes Escherchia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The development of a zone of inhibition against the microbes confirmed the presence of antimicrobial/immunogenic activity of the cocoon shell extract. For further analysis, the cocoon shell extract was subjected to 7-15% sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein profile of the cocoon extract revealed the coomassie blue stained bands resolved from the 150-15 kDa molecular range. Interestingly, a polypeptide localized at around 29 kDa showed remarkable expressional changes during the development of pupa. To characterize the 29 kDa protein, it was eluted from the gel, digested with trypsin and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The trypsin-digested peptide peaks were analyzed through MASCOT and peptides were matched with the NCBI nr database. The peptides were very well matched with the 18 wheeler protein, which is reported to be responsible for innate immunity, belonging to the Toll family in insects and responsible for cellular mediated immunity.     

蚕丝丝素中色氨酸含量及其在丝素纤维中的径向分布研究

通过双波长分光光度法和对二甲氨基苯甲醛显色法研究桑蚕春茧内、中、外各茧层丝素中的色氨酸含量和色氨酸在丝素纤维中的径向分布状况 ,并探讨了光、热处理后蚕丝丝素中色氨酸含量的变化 .结果表明 ,外、中、内各茧层丝素的色氨酸含量不一致 ,由外至内各茧层丝素中色氨酸含量依次降低 ;色氨酸在丝素纤维的径向分布不均一 ,呈现色氨酸在易溶落的最外表面层含量最多 ,次表层相对较少 ,中间层较多 ,而内层最少的分布状态 ;光或热处理均会破坏丝素中色氨酸 ,使色氨酸含量明显下降 .     

Changes in Amino Acid Profiles and Bioactive Compounds of Thai Silk Cocoons as Affected by Water Extraction

Silk proteins have many advantageous components including proteins and pigments. The proteins—sericin and fibroin—have been widely studied for medical applications due to their good physiochemical properties and biological activities. Various strains of cocoon display different compositions such as amino-acid profiles and levels of antioxidant activity. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to find a suitable silk protein extraction method to obtain products with chemical and biological properties suitable as functional foods in two strains of Bombyx mori silk cocoon (Nangsew strains; yellow cocoon) and Samia ricini silk cocoon (Eri strains; white cocoon) extracted by water at 100 °C for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h. The results showed that Nangsew strains extracted for 6 h contained the highest amounts of protein, amino acids, total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC), plus DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), anti-glycation, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The longer extraction time produced higher concentrations of amino acids, contributing to sweet and umami tastes in both silk strains. It seemed that the bitterness decreased as the extraction time increased, resulting in improvements in the sweetness and umami of silk-protein extracts.     

Dissolution and regeneration of Bombyx mori silk fibroin using ionic liquids

In this work, the suitability of imidazolium-based ionic liquid solvents is investigated for the dissolution and regeneration of silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk. Within an ionic liquid the anion plays a larger role in dictating the ultimate solubility of the silk. The dissolution of the silk in the ionic liquid is confirmed using wide-angle X-ray scattering. The dissolved silk is also processed into 100 mum-thick, two-dimensional films, and the structure of these films is examined. The rinse solvent, acetonitrile or methanol, has a profound impact on both the topography of the films and the secondary structure of the silk protein. The image depicts a silkworm cocoon dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and then regenerated as a film with birefringence.     

Nephila clavipes spider dragline silk microstructure studied by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

Nephila clavipes dragline silk microstructure has been investigated by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), a technique that allows quantitative mapping of the level of orientation of the peptide groups at high spatial resolution (<50 nm). Maps of the orientation parameter P2 have been derived for spider silk for the first time. Dragline silk presents a very fine microstructure in which small, highly oriented domains (average area of 1800 nm2, thus clearly bigger than individual beta-sheet crystallites) are dispersed in a dominant, moderately oriented matrix with several small unoriented domains. Our results also highlight the orientation of the noncrystalline fraction in silk, which has been underestimated in numerous structural models. No evidence of either a regular lamellar structure or any periodicity along the fiber was observed at this spatial resolution. The surface of fresh spider silk sections consists of a approximately 30-120 nm thick layer of highly oriented protein chains, which was found to vary with the reeling speed, where web building (0.5 cm/s) and lifeline (10 cm/s) spinning speeds were investigated. While the average level of orientation of the protein chains is unaffected by the spinning speed, STXM measurements clearly highlight microstructure differences. The slowpull fiber contains a larger fraction of highly oriented domains, while the protein chains are more homogeneously oriented in the fastpull fiber. In comparison, cocoon silk from the silkworm Bombyx mori presents a narrower orientation distribution. The strength-extensibility combination found in spider dragline silk is associated with its broad orientation distribution of highly interdigitated and unoriented domains.     

Differences in cytotoxicity of β-sheet peptides originated from silk and amyloid β

The relationships between amino acid sequence, nano-assemblies, and cytotoxicity to neuron cytotoxicity were investigated using β-sheet-forming peptides from Araneus ventricosus spider silk, and amyloid forming peptides Aβ(12-28) (β1), Aβ(28-42) (β2), and full-length Aβ(1-42). Although silk derived peptides formed nano-assemblies, nanofilaments, and nanofibrils with β-sheet contents raging from 24 to 40%, they showed no significant cytotoxicity to neurons. In contrast, nano-assemblies and nanofibrils formed from Aβ peptides with high β-sheet content demonstrated cytotoxicity to the neurons. These differences in cell response between the silk β-sheets and Aβ peptides indicate that the general propensity to form beta sheets and form nanostructures is not sufficient to predict cytotoxicity, while surface charges of the assemblies are significant factors that impact cytotoxicity.     

Bioinspired Green Composite Lotus Fibers

Owing to the growing global environmental problems, demands for environmentally friendly, fully biodegradable sustainable composites have substantially increased across various industries. Inspired by the composite structure of cocoon silk, we fabricated a fully green composite fiber (GCF) that is based on the lotus fiber (LF) and a biodegradable polymer, namely poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). After the formation of cross‐linkages between the LF and PVA, the mechanical properties of this bioinspired GCF had substantially improved. In particular, the specific mechanical properties are superior to those of cocoon silk and other natural fibers. These findings suggest that LFs may be used as reinforcement materials for the fabrication of bulk green materials for various industries, such as the textile, medical, automobile, and aerospace industries.     

再生蚕丝的制备及其结构和性能初探

在制备高浓度高分子量蚕丝素蛋白水溶液的基础上, 采用湿法纺丝技术, 在一定条件下纺制出力学性能优于天然蚕(茧)丝的再生蚕丝纤维, 其断裂强度及断裂伸长率分别达到0.5 GPa和20%. 扫描电镜观察结果显示: 初生纤维具有典型的“皮芯”结构, 而纤维内部则为疏松多孔的网状或蜂窝状结构; 经过一定的后拉伸处理后, 纤维的表面变得光滑, 且内部结构也趋于致密. 固体 13C核磁共振及拉曼光谱分析结果表明, 后拉伸及热湿处理均有利于提高纤维内部β-折叠结构的含量, 分子链的规整度和取向性也随之改善, 从而使再生蚕丝纤维的力学性能得到进一步提高.     

Presence of β-Turn Structure in Recombinant Spider Silk Dissolved in Formic Acid Revealed with NMR

Spider dragline silk is a biopolymer with excellent mechanical properties. The development of recombinant spider silk protein (RSP)-based materials with these properties is desirable. Formic acid (FA) is a spinning solvent for regenerated Bombyx mori silk fiber with excellent mechanical properties. To use FA as a spinning solvent for RSP with the sequence of major ampullate spider silk protein from Araneus diadematus, we determined the conformation of RSP in FA using solution NMR to determine the role of FA as a spinning solvent. We assigned ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N chemical shifts to 32-residue repetitive sequences, including polyAla and Gly-rich regions of RSP. Chemical shift evaluation revealed that RSP is in mainly random coil conformation with partially type II β-turn structure in the Gly-Pro-Gly-X motifs of the Gly-rich region in FA, which was confirmed by the ¹⁵N NOE data. In addition, formylation at the Ser OH groups occurred in FA. Furthermore, we evaluated the conformation of the as-cast film of RSP dissolved in FA using solid-state NMR and found that β-sheet structure was predominantly formed.     

铁和锰对桑蚕丝蛋白构象转变的影响

采用电感耦合等离子体质谱和原子吸收光谱对桑蚕丝腺体和蚕茧丝中Fe和Mn的含量进行表征, 同时采用拉曼光谱研究Fe(III)和Mn(II)对高浓度再生桑蚕丝蛋白水溶液中丝蛋白构象的影响. 研究结果表明, 桑蚕丝纤维中Fe的含量高于其在丝腺体中的含量, 而Mn的含量则相反. 在丝腺体中, Fe的含量从丝腺体的后部到前部逐渐增加; 但Mn含量的变化趋势与Fe不同, 它在丝腺体中部的含量最低. Fe(III)能够诱导丝蛋白的构象由无规线团和/或螺旋结构向β-折叠转变, 但是Mn(II)对丝蛋白的构象没有明显的影响.     

Direct Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite-Silk Fibroin Nano-Composite Sol via a Mechanochemical Route

In the presence of fine silk cocoon (silk fibroin, SF) powder, a low viscosity sol of nano-hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂)—SF was synthesized by a wet mechanochemical reaction. Nano crystals of HAp are oriented along their c-axis. The secondary structure of SF was changed by milling. A uniform thin gel film was obtained by a simple dip coating on the glass substrate precoated by chitosan.     

桑蚕丝腺体和丝纤维中金属离子的含量

用不同的测试方法, 即质子诱导X射线发射(PIXE)、电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)和原子吸收光谱(AAS)对桑蚕丝腺体和丝纤维中金属元素的含量进行了详细的表征. 结果表明, 在桑蚕丝腺体和丝纤维中含有钠、镁、钾、钙、铜、锌、铁、锰八种金属元素, 同时还可能含有微量的铷和锶. 这些金属元素在丝腺体和各种丝纤维(蚕茧丝、强拉丝和脱胶丝)中的含量都有所变化, 而这些变化可能与之在成丝过程(丝蛋白的构象转变过程)中所起的作用有关.     

An algorithm for packing regular multistrand polypeptide structures by energy minimization

An algorithm has been developed for packing polypeptide chains by energy minimization subject to regularity conditions, in which regularity is maintained without the addition of pseudoenergy terms by defining the energy as a function of appropriately chosen independent variables. The gradient of the energy with respect to the independent variables is calculated analytically. The speed and efficiency of convergence of the algorithm to a local energy minimum are comparable to those of existing algorithms for minimizing the energy of a single polypeptide chain. The algorithm has been used to reinvestigate the minimum-energy regular structures of three-stranded (L -Ala)₈, three-stranded (L -Val)₆, five-stranded (L -Ile)₆, and the regular and truncated three-stranded (Gly-L -Pro-L -Pro)₄ triple helices. Local minima with improved packing energies, but with essentially unchanged geometrical properties, were obtained in all cases. The algorithm was also used to reinvestigate the structures proposed previously for the I and II forms of crystalline silk fibroin. The silk II structure was reproduced with slightly improved packing and little other change. The orthorhombic silk I structure showed more change and considerably improved packing energy, but the new regular monoclinic silk I structure had considerably higher energy. The results support the structure proposed previously for silk II and the orthorhombic structure, but not the monoclinic structure proposed for silk I. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Spherulites of Tussah Silk Fibroin. Structure, thermal properties and growth rates

The crystal structure, thermal properties and growth rates of spherulites of the Tussah silk fibroin, produced upon drying of the silk taken directly from the lumen which is essentially a poly(L-alanine)polypeptide, are investigated. Depending on casting conditions, spherulites with either αhelical chain conformation or β parallel sheet structure are produced. The growth rates display a strong positive temperature coefficient, with an apparent transition, which however cannot be related with the formation of two different crystal structures at this stage. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Early Aerobic Exercise Combined with Hydrogen-Rich Saline as Preconditioning Protects Myocardial Injury Induced by Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The feasibility of microalgae cultivation using cooking cocoon wastewater (CCW) collected from a silk production factory was investigated in this work....     

丝素纳米颗粒的制备及应用于L-天冬酰胺酶的固定化

丝素蛋白纤维溶于高浓度中性盐溴化锂溶液或氯化钙-乙醇-水三元溶剂中, 经过透析和纯化可以制成3种液态丝素. SDS-PAGE分析结果表明, 其分子量分布范围明显不同. 应用能与水混溶的有机溶剂如丙酮等可将这种丝素制成丝素纳米颗粒, 用SEM观察到丝素纳米颗粒粒径分布范围为50~120 nm. 以戊二醛为交联剂, 将治疗急性淋巴性白血病常用酶制剂L-天冬酰胺酶共价结合在丝素纳米颗粒上. 酶活性分析结果表明, 由肽链断裂较少的丝素制备的纳米颗粒更适合于酶的生物结合. 酶动力学研究结果表明, 这种固定化酶活性回收率为44%, 热稳定性较游离酶有明显提高, 最适pH值范围加宽为6.0~8.0, 最适反应温度提高10 ℃; 抗胰蛋白酶水解能力明显增强. 结果表明, 丝素纳米颗粒与丝素蛋白膜一样, 是一种酶固定化的良好载体, 在药物缓释系统方面具有潜在的研究和开发价值.     

从天然动物丝到丝蛋白基材料的研究

作为具有优异综合力学性能的天然蛋白质纤维,丰产的动物丝特别是蚕丝长期伴随着人们的日常生活,近十余年来,各种具有特色的功能性丝蛋白基材料更是层出不穷.但在探索动物丝和丝蛋白基材料的过程中,动物丝纤维是经由蚕或蜘蛛等动物的纺器而纺制得到的简单事实往往被忽视;换言之,动物丝实际上是动物对丝蛋白进行体内“加工”后的产物,也是丝蛋白基材料中的一种.因此,天然动物丝中独特的各等级间构效关系与丝蛋白基材料的构效关系之间并不存在着必然的传承效应.本文着重介绍了我们在对动物丝和丝蛋白基材料探索中的经验和体会,即在强调以丝蛋白分子链结构与性能及其之间的关系为研究重点的基础上,从比较和发掘各种天然动物丝的特性入手,进而了解丝蛋白分子链在本体和溶液中的行为,并通过对动物丝蛋白分子链聚集态结构的调控,以达到设计制备一系列多形貌和多功能的动物丝蛋白基材料的目的.     

Studies on the Chromogen of the Tussah Cocoon Layer and its Chromophoric Mechanism

The tawny cocoon of tussah has been studied by means of UV, FS and ESR. It has been shown that the tawny chromogen is a cross-linked polymer of gentisic acid and silk proteins. The formation mechanism of this polymer is also suggested here.     

Physical and chemical properties of tussah silk fibroin films

Physical and chemical structure, as well as thermal behavior of solution-cast regenerated films, prepared from tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin, were compared with those of solution-cast native films, in order to ascertain whether treatment (degumming, dissolution) used for preparation affected their properties. Regenerated fibroin films exhibited a higher thermal stability than native ones, as shown by differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical behavior. Glass transition temperature and other relevant thermal transitions of the regenerated silk specimen shifted to higher temperatures compared with those of native specimen. Molecular conformation and crystalline structure did not show significant differences between the two kinds of silk films. Amino acid composition and molecular weight, however, distribution changed markedly after dissolving tussah silk fibroin fiber in concentrated LiSCN in polypeptide size was the main features for the regenerated silk fibroin. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Wax components of larval cocoon silk of the hornet Vespa analis Fabricius

Wax, 85% of which consists of orthorhombic crystals, has been found in the cocoon of the hornet Vespa analis Fabricius by means of high-resolution ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). GC–MS analysis revealed the major components of the wax in the cocoon were linear alkenes and alkanes with a total of 23 or 34 carbon atoms. At 40.7 °C a DSC absorption peak and a ¹³C NMR chemical shift change were observed and interpreted as the result of a crystal transition from the orthorhombic to rotator phase of the wax molecules. At 55.5 °C melting of the wax was observed. The amount of crystalline wax deposition varied with the part of the cocoon—crystalline wax was concentrated in the silk sleeve lining the inner wall of each comb cell but there was very little in the silk cap projecting from the end of each cell. Because the wax components of the larval cocoon were almost identical to those of the larval cuticle, despite a slight difference in the profiles, they might have come from the larval cuticle via direct body contact with the cocoon. Figure Cocoon of the hornet Vespa analis Fabricius