Chemical modification of silk sericin in lithium chloride/dimethyl sulfoxide solvent with 4-cyanophenyl isocyanate

This paper reports chemical modification of silk sericin in LiCl/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent with 4-cyanophenyl isocyanate. Sericin is a highly hydrophilic protein secreted by Bombyx mori, serving as a protein glue in a cocoon. LiCl/DMSO was found to be a good solvent of sericin and useful for homogeneous modification of its abundant hydroxyl groups under nonaqueous condition. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of the modified sericins revealed that 4-cyanophenyl groups were incorporated into sericin molecules mainly through urethane linkages. Several characteristics of the modified sericins such as solubility characteristic, hygroscopic property, and thermal stability were investigated. Secondary structure analysis using FTIR spectra suggested that formation of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds was inhibited by the modification that is probably attributable to the incorporation of bulky 4-cyanophenyl groups. These results demonstrate that chemical modification of sericin using LiCl/DMSO solvent markedly alters its characteristics.     

Comparative Proteome Analysis of Multi-Layer Cocoon of the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

Bombyx mori cocoon has a multi-layer structure that provides optimal protection for silkworm pupa. Research on the mechanical properties of the multi-layer structure revealed structure-property relationships of the cocoon. Here, we investigated the protein components of the B. mori cocoon in terms of its multi-layer structure. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 286 proteins from the multiple cocoon layers. In addition to fibroins and sericins, we identified abundant protease inhibitors, seroins and proteins of unknown function. By comparing protein abundance across layers, we found that the outermost layer contained more sericin1 and protease inhibitors and the innermost layer had more seroin1. As many as 36 protease inhibitors were identified in cocoons, showing efficient inhibitory activities against a fungal protease. Thus, we propose that more abundant protease inhibitors in the outer cocoon layers may provide better protection for the cocoon. This study increases our understanding of the multi-layer mechanism of cocoons, and helps clarify the biological characteristics of cocoons. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001469.     

Structure and expression of the silk adhesive protein Ser2 in Bombyx mori

Sericins are soluble silk components encoded in Bombyx mori by three genes, of which Ser1 and Ser3 have been characterized. The Ser1 and Ser3 proteins were shown to appear later in the last larval instar as the major sericins of cocoon silk. These proteins are, however, virtually absent in the highly adhesive silk spun prior to cocoon spinning, when the larvae construct a loose scaffold for cocoon attachment. We show here that the silk-gland lumen of the feeding last instar larvae contains two abundant adhesive proteins of 230 kDa and 120 kDa that were identified as products of the Ser2 gene. We also describe the sequence, exon–intron structure, alternative splicing and deduced translation products of this gene in the Daizo p50 strain of B. mori. Two mRNAs of 5.7 and 3.1 kb are generated by alternative splicing of the largest exon. The predicted mature proteins contain 1740 and 882 amino acid residues. The repetitive amino acid sequence encoded by exons 9a and 9b is apparently responsible for the adhesiveness of Ser2 products. It has a similar periodic arrangement of motifs containing lysine and proline as a highly adhesive protein of the mussel Mytilus edulis.     

Isolation of three main sericin components from the cocoon of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

To characterize the sericin components of the cocoon of silkworm Bombyx mori, fresh cocoon shells were dissolved in saturated aqueous lithium thiocyanate containing 2-mercaptoethanol, and fractionated by ethanol precipitation. Cocoon sericin was found to mainly consist of three polypeptides having molecular masses of the 400, 250, and 150 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE, which corresponds to the sericin present in the middle, anterior, and posterior part of the middle silk gland. The amino acid compositions of the 400 and 150 kDa components were similar to each other, but that of the 250 kDa component was different. This suggests differences in the coding gene and properties of the 250 kDa sericin from the other two.     

Isolation of Three Main Sericin Components from the Cocoon of the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

To characterize the sericin components of the cocoon of silkworm Bombyx mori, fresh cocoon shells were dissolved in saturated aqueous lithium thiocyanate containing 2-mercaptoethanol, and fractionated by ethanol precipitation. Cocoon sericin was found to mainly consist of three polypeptides having molecular masses of the 400, 250, and 150 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE, which corresponds to the sericin present in the middle, anterior, and posterior part of the middle silk gland. The amino acid compositions of the 400 and 150 kDa components were similar to each other, but that of the 250 kDa component was different. This suggests differences in the coding gene and properties of the 250 kDa sericin from the other two.     

Identification and characterization of a novel sericin gene expressed in the anterior middle silk gland of the silkworm Bombyx mori

Sericin is a group of proteins expressed in the middle silk gland that covers the surface of fibroin in the cocoon filament of Bombyx mori. Sericin consists of several serine-rich proteins with different molecular masses. Sericin A is one of the proteins and is produced in the anterior portion of the middle silk gland. To identify the gene coding for the protein, we determined the primary structures of its partial peptides, and the gene was searched using the silkworm genomic databases. Three contigs containing the corresponding nucleotide sequences were identified and categorized as one group. The gene structure covering the 5' flanking and the 3' end was determined by PCR fragments from genomic DNA, RT-PCR, and 5' and 3' RACE. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence mainly consists of two serine-rich regions of 86-amino acid motif and 8-amino acid repeated sequence. The expression of the gene is limited to the anterior and middle parts of the middle silk gland. In addition, because the sericin gene appeared different from the sericin 1 and 2 genes reported earlier, we designated the newly discovered gene as sericin 3.     

饲料中转基因成分对家蚕生长发育的影响

采用家蚕（Bombyx mori）H9品种作为实验动物,分别用转基因和非转基因大豆粉制作的人工饲料进行饲育。通过饲育试验,比较分析了不同处理后家蚕的龄期经过时间、全茧量、茧层量、茧层率、蛹体重、疏毛率、死亡率、每龄眠起体重等经济性状指标。同时采用PCR方法对转基因饲料饲育后家蚕组织中外源基因的表达情况进行了检测。结果显示,含转基因大豆粉的人工饲料对家蚕的生长发育并无显著影响,且不存在外源基因的污染。     

家蚕不同茧色品种中cbp基因的结构和表达分析

类胡萝卜素结合蛋白(CBP)是唯一已被确认与家蚕黄色茧形成儡切相关的主要蛋白质。文章选择12个有色茧和白茧蚕品种, 调查了cbp基因结构、转录产物mRNA类型和丝腺类胡萝卜素紫外可见光吸收特征与其茧色的关系。结果表明: 黄色茧蚕品种含有2种或3种cbp基因结构, 同时转录具有CBP功能性的完整 mRNA和缺少第2外显子的mRNA; 绿茧品种间cbp基因结构存在差异, 转录缺少第2外显子的mRNA; 白茧蚕品种cbp基因只有1种结构, 转录缺少第2外显子的mRNA。文章在黄茧品种中新发现的cbp基因第1内含子序列可能具有茧色品种特异性, 家蚕黄茧品种丝腺的紫外可见吸收光谱特征显著区别于绿茧和白茧品种, cbp基因的结构和表达特征与家蚕茧色密切相关。     

Proteins in the Cocoon of Silkworm Inhibit the Growth of Beauveria bassiana

Silk cocoons are composed of fiber proteins (fibroins) and adhesive glue proteins (sericins), which provide a physical barrier to protect the inside pupa. Moreover, other proteins were identified in the cocoon silk, many of which are immune related proteins. In this study, we extracted proteins from the silkworm cocoon by Tris-HCl buffer (pH7.5), and found that they had a strong inhibitory activity against fungal proteases and they had higher abundance in the outer cocoon layers than in the inner cocoon layers. Moreover, we found that extracted cocoon proteins can inhibit the germination of Beauveria bassiana spores. Consistent with the distribution of protease inhibitors, we found that proteins from the outer cocoon layers showed better inhibitory effects against B. bassiana spores than proteins from the inner layers. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to reveal the extracted components in the scaffold silk, the outermost cocoon layer. A total of 129 proteins were identified, 30 of which were annotated as protease inhibitors. Protease inhibitors accounted for 89.1% in abundance among extracted proteins. These protease inhibitors have many intramolecular disulfide bonds to maintain their stable structure, and remained active after being boiled. This study added a new understanding to the antimicrobial function of the cocoon.     

以模板活性染色质转移家蚕基因的研究

一定的组织中仅仅转录一定的基因,组织中那些进行转录的染色质区域称为模板活性染色质.因此,只要选择一定的组织提取模板活性染色质,就可获得预期的基因.我们从红茧蚕(沔阳红带P_k基因)五龄幼虫的丝腺组织中提取模板活性染色质,用显微注射技术转移到黄茧蚕(巴陵黄)的受精卵中,观察到了能结红茧的变异体并已传至F₃代;说明P_k基因被成功地转移并能传递给子代.另外,以普通褐卵(苏春)的活性染色质注射到白卵(沄纹皮斑)受精卵中,也得到了黑卵变异.利用分离模板活性染色质来转移预期基因的技术,可能为真核生物的基因转移提供一个新的途径.     

Silk cocoon of Bombyx mori: Proteins and posttranslational modifications – heavy phosphorylation and evidence for lysine‐mediated cross links

Although silk is used to produce textiles and serves as a valuable biomaterial in medicine, information on silk proteins of the cocoon is limited. Scanning electron microscopy was applied to morphologically characterise the sample and the solubility of cocoon in lithium thiocyanate and 2‐DE was carried out with multi‐enzyme in‐gel digestion followed by MS identification of silk‐peptides. High‐sequence coverage of the silk cocoon proteins fibroin light and heavy chain, sericins and fibrohexamerins was revealed and PTMs as heavy phosphorylation of silk fibroin heavy chain; lysine hydroxylation and Lys‐>allysine formation have been observed providing evidence for lysine‐mediated cross linking of silk as found in collagens, which has not been reported so far. Tyrosine oxidation verified the presence of di‐tyrosine cross links. A high degree of sequence conflicts probably representing single‐nucleotide polymorphisms was observed. PTM and sequence conflicts may be modulating structure and physicochemical properties of silk.     

BmStart1, a novel carotenoid-binding protein isoform from Bombyx mori, is orthologous to MLN64, a mammalian cholesterol transporter

Carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) from the silkworm Bombyx mori is an essential molecule for carotenoid dependent cocoon pigmentation. We identified a novel isoform of CBP, Start1 of B. mori (BmStart1). BmStart1 contains a membrane-spanning MENTAL domain in its N-terminus and a lipid-binding START domain in its C-terminus. This domain architecture is identical to the mammalian MLN64 and Start1 of Drosophila melanogaster (DmStart1), both of which have been implicated to function in cholesterol transport and regulation of steroidogenesis. BmStart1 is expressed in both white and yellow cocoon strains of B. mori, while CBP is only detected in the yellow cocoon strain. BmStart1 mRNA abundance in the prothoracic gland, the main ecdysteroidogenic tissue, positively correlates with changes in the hemolymph ecdysteroid level. Genomic sequence analysis revealed that BmStart1 and CBP are generated from the same gene locus by alternative splicing. Splice site comparison and homology search indicate that BmStart1 is orthologous to both MLN64 and DmStart1. This study implies that alternative splicing of the BmStart1/CBP gene generates unique protein isoforms whose endogenous ligands, sterol or carotenoid, are structurally different.     

Transgenic silkworms that weave recombinant proteins into silk cocoons

As a result of breeding for more than 4,000 years, the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has acquired the ability to synthesize bulk amounts of silk proteins in its silk glands. To utilize this capacity for mass production of useful proteins, transgenic silkworms were generated that synthesized recombinant proteins in the silk gland and secreted them into the silk cocoon. The silk gland is classified into two main regions: the posterior (PSG) and the middle silk gland (MSG). By controlling the expressed regions of the recombinant protein gene in the silk gland, we were able to control the localization of the synthesized protein in the silk thread. Expression in the PSG or MSG led to localization in the insoluble fibroin core or hydrophilic outer sericin layer, respectively. This review focuses on the expression of recombinant protein in the MSG of transgenic silkworms. The recombinant protein secreted in the sericin layer is extractable from the cocoon with only a small amount of endogenous silk protein contamination by soaking the cocoon in mild aqueous solutions. The possibility of utilizing transgenic silkworms as a valuable tool for the mass production of therapeutic and industrially relevant recombinant proteins is discussed.     

Two drosophila melanogaster tRNAGly genes are contained in a direct duplication at chromosomal locus 56F.

One Drosophila melanogaster tRNAGly gene occurs on each 1.1-2.0 kb unit of a direct duplication at chromosomal region 56F. The nucleotide sequence of the gene and the 5' flanking region has been determined. The non-transcribed strand sequence of the tRNA gene is: 5' GCATCGGTGGTTCAGTGGTAGAATGCTCGCCTGCCACGCGGGCGGCCCGGGTTCGATTCCCGGCCGATGCA 3'. This nucleotide sequence is identical to that of the major glycine tRNA in Bombyx mori posterior silk gland. Within the 22 kb region mapped, additional tRNA genes are found, an observation consistent with reports that genes for other isoacceptors are present at this locus.     

A carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) plays a crucial role in cocoon pigmentation of silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae

We examined the role of carotenoid-binding protein (CBP) in yellow cocoon pigmentation. First, using yellow or white cocoon races, we investigated the linkage between the yellow pigmentation and CBP expression. CBP was expressed only in the silk gland of the yellow cocoon races, which utilize carotenoids for cocoon pigmentation. Furthermore, CBP expression in the silk glands of day 1-7 fifth instar larvae matched the period of carotenoid uptake into the silk gland. Finally, we gave double-stranded CBP RNA to Bombyx mori (B. mori) larvae to induce RNA interference. The significantly reduced expression of CBP in the silk gland of fifth instar larva was confirmed on day 4 and a decrease in yellow pigmentation was observed in the cocoon. We showed that CBP plays a key role in the yellow cocoon pigmentation caused by carotenoids.     

天宫二号航天蚕后代小茧突变体sc的发现与基因定位

【目的】从2016年天宫二号空间实验室经历33 d后返回的1头成活“秋丰×白玉”杂交后代雌蚕Bombyx mori与地面“白玉”雄蚕交配的后代个体中,发现有结小茧突变体,进而分离并建立了飞天蚕(space silkworm)正常茧品系TG和小茧突变体品系sc。本研究通过对sc进行遗传分析和基因定位,旨在揭示产生小茧突变体的基因。【方法】对TG和sc进行表型分析;以sc, TG和正常大茧品系0223V1为试验材料,组配(sc♀×0223V1♂)F₁及回交群体BC₁F——(sc♀×0223V1♂)F₁♀×sc♂和BC₁M——sc♀×(sc♀×0223V1♂)F₁♂。以sc, 0223V1和F₁基因组DNA为模板,每个连锁群随机选10个SSR引物进行PCR扩增,筛选多态性SSR标记。利用雌性家蚕减数分裂染色体不交换的特点,用BC₁F确定sc基因所属连锁群;再根据家蚕SSR分子标记连锁图谱,用BC1M进行基因定位。【结果】表型分析表明sc幼虫体型小于TG幼虫的,蚕茧重约为TG的1/2。遗传分析表明突变受一对隐性基因sc控制;基因定位结果表明该基因位于家蚕基因组第3连锁群S2930-363和S2930-289 SSR标记之间,物理距离为684 kb,包含33个候选基因。【结论】飞天蚕小茧突变受位于家蚕基因组第3连锁群的一对隐性基因sc控制。     

Discovering genes responsible for silk synthesis in Bombyx mori by piggyBac‐based random insertional mutagenesis

Silkworm mutants are valuable resources for both transgenic breeding and gene discovery. PiggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis has been widely used in gene functional studies. In order to discover genes involved in silk synthesis, a piggyBac-based random insertional library was constructed using Bombyx mori, and the mutants with abnormal cocoon were particularly screened. By this means, a “thin cocoon” mutant was identified. This mutant revealed thinner cocoon shell and shorter posterior silk gland (PSG) compared with the wild type. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of all the three fibroin genes, including Fib-H, Fib-L and P25, were significantly down-regulated in the PSG of mutants. Four piggyBac insertion sites were identified in Aquaporin (AQP), Longitudinals lacking protein-like {Lola), Glutamyl aminopeptidase-like (GluAP) and Loc101744460. The mRNA levels of all the four genes were significantly altered in the silk gland of mutants. In particular, the mRNA amount of AQP, a gene responsible for the regulation of osmotic pressure, decreased dramatically immediately prior to the spinning stage in the anterior silk gland of mutants. The identification of the genes disrupted in the “thin cocoon” mutant in this study provided useful information for understanding silk production and transgenic breeding of silkworms in the future.     

家蚕黄血抑制基因的SSR定位

家蚕黄茧性状主要由3个基因控制, 分别是黄血基因(Yellow blood, Y), 黄血抑制基因(Yellow inhibitor, I)和黄茧基因(Out-layer yellow cocoon, C)。I基因阻止类胡萝卜素从中肠上皮细胞到血淋巴的转运, 是天然黄茧形成过程中的重要控制基因。利用家蚕雌性不发生交换的特点, 采用黄血黄茧品系KY和白血白茧品系巴格达特(Ba)组配正反交群体(Ba×KY)×KY和KY×(Ba×KY), 分别记作BC1F和BC1M, 根据已经构建的家蚕SSR分子标记连锁图谱对I基因进行了定位及连锁分析。筛选出3个与I基因连锁的SSR标记。BC1F群中的所有白血个体均表现出与(Ba×KY) F1相同的杂合型带型; 而所有黄血个体带型与亲本KY一致, 为纯合型。利用另一个群体BC1M构建了关于I基因的遗传连锁图, 连锁图的遗传距离为38.4 cM, 与I基因最近的引物为S0904, 图距为7.4 cM。