• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.56-69
• /
• 2022

Silk is a unique natural biopolymer with outstanding biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, and superior optical transparency. Due to its excellent properties, silk has been widely reported as an ideal biomaterial for several biomedical applications. Recently, fluorescent silk protein, a variant of native silk, has been reported as a biophotonic material with the potential for bioimaging and biosensing. Despite the realization of fluorescent silk, the traditional degumming process of fluorescence silk is crude and often results in fluorescence loss. The loss of fluorescent properties is attributed to the sensitivity of silk fibroin to temperature and solvent concentration during degumming. However, there is no comprehensive information on the influence of these processing parameters on fluorescence evolution and decay during fluorescent silk processing. Therefore, we conducted a spectroscopic study on fluorescence decay as a function of temperature, concentration, and duration for fluorescent silk cocoon degumming. Sodium carbonate solution was tested for degumming the fluorescent silk cocoons with different concentrations and temperatures; also, sodium carbonate solution is combined with Alcalase enzyme and triton x-100 to find optimal degumming conditions. Additionally, we conducted a molecular dynamics study to investigate the fundamental effect of temperature on the stability of the fluorescent protein. We observed degumming temperature as the prime source of fluorescent intensity reduction. From the MD study, fluorescence degradation originated from the thermal agitation of fluorescent protein Cα atoms and fluctuations of amino acid residues located in the chromophore region. Overall, degumming fluorescent silk with sodium carbonate and Alcalase enzyme solution at 25 ℃ preserved fluorescence.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2002

The general and specific combining abilities and hybrid vigour of seven polyvoltine breeds [BL24, BL62, BL6S, BL67, BL68, BL69, and Pure Mysore (PM)] with five bivoltine breeds (NB4D2, CSR2, CSR5, CSR18 and CSR19) were evaluated in a line ${times}$ tester design by analysing six quantitative traits viz., fecundity, yield 110,000 larvae both by number and weight, cocoon weight, shell weight and cocoon shell ratio. ANOVA estimates showed significant effects for all the traits indicating the role of both additive and non- additive gene actions. Estimation of GCA revealed that the breed BL67 exhibited significant positive effects toy all the six traits followed by BL68 for four important economic traits viz., fecundity, cocoon weight, shell weight and cocoon shell ratio. Among testers, CSR5 showed significant GCA effects for five traits whereas CSR2 exhibited for shell weight and shell ratio. Three hybrids viz., BL67${times}$ NB4D2, BL67 ${times}$CSR5 and BL67${times}$ CSR19 excelled in four quantitative traits for SCA. Majority of the hybrids expressed positive hybrid vigour for cocoon yield/10,000 larvae by weight, cocoon weight and shell weight. Four hybrids namely PM ${times}$ NB4D2, BL67 ${times}$NB4D2, BL67${times}$ CSR5 and BL67${times}$ CSR19 manifesting positive hybrid vigour for five economic traits were adjudicated as best Heterotic hybrids and recommended for commercial exploitation to increase the silk yield.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 1975

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of various compositions of artificial diet for silkworms on the cocoon shell fibroin-hydrolyzing with the proteolytic enzyme. The obtained results are summarized as follows： 1. It was found that the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio of the cocoon shell made by silkworms fed with artificial diets was lower than that of the cocoon shell made by silkworms fed with natural diet (mulberry leaf) 2. The amount of soybean meal in the artificial diet was negatively related to the sericin content of cocoon shell but it scarcely affected on the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 3. The increase of sucrose in the artificial diet reduced the sericin content of cocoon shell but it didn't influence on the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 4. A significant difference between male and female silkworms fed with artificial diets was found in the sericin content of cocoon shell but it was not approved in tile fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 5. The artificial diet containing 8 per cent of mulberry leaf powder increased the fbroin-hydrolyzing ratio more than that containing 10 per cent of mulberry leaf powder or that containing 8 per cent of mulberry leaf powder and a little of methionine did. 6. The artificial diet for all instars of silkworms increased the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio more than the artificial diet for 1st to 3rd instars and natural diet (mulberry leaf) for the rest instars did.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2014

We produced the transgenic silkworm that expressed the enhanced blue fluorescent protein (EBFP) in the cocoon of silkworms. The EBFP fusion protein, each with N- and C-terminal sequences of the fibroin H-chain, was designed to be secreted into the lumen of the posterior silk glands. The expression of the EBFP/H-chain fusion gene was regulated by the fibroin H-chain promoter. The use of the $3{\times}P3$-driven DsRed2 cDNA as a marker allowed us to rapidly distinguish transgenic silkworm. A mixture of the donor and helper vector was micro-injected into 300 eggs of silkworms, Baegokjam. We obtained 5 broods. The cocoon displayed blue fluorescence, proving that the fusion protein was present in the cocoon. Also, the presence of fusion proteins in cocoons was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis. Accordingly, we suggest that the EBFP fluorescence silk will enable the production of the silk-based biomaterials.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2014

On previous studies, we constructed a transgenic silkworm which produces the chimeric silk fused green fluorescent protein (EGFP), but the transgenic silkworm has decreased commercial feasible traits such as convenience of breeding and productivity of silk. In this study, we performed cross fertilization between green fluorescent silk transgenic silkworm and colored cocoon silkworm descents to make the transgenic the transgenic silkworm producing improved fluorescence cocoon. In the result, we found out a bit valuable cross fertilization manners ($female{\times}male$) in respect of silk productivity such as $T59B{\times}Jam26$, $Jam329{\times}T59W$, $T59W{\times}Jam329$, and $T59W{\times}Jam178$. The color-difference of offspring cocoons were measured according to different cross manners using by CIE Lab-based formulae with a X-rite VS450. In the result, the depth of green color of cocoons was a little high at cross manners as $Jam329{\times}T59W$, $T59W{\times}Jam178$. Meanwhile, the depth of yellow clolor of cocoons was remarkable at cross manners as $Jam178{\times}T59W$, $T59W{\times}Jam178$, respectively.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 2004

To evolve silkworm hybrids with higher survival and productivity and easy and effective seed cocoon production, three new evolved bivoltine hybrids of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.), created with participation of sex-limited lines at eggs and larva stage were evaluated with control Super$_1$${\times}$Hessa$_2$ hybrid at Plovdiv Agrarian University during 2000 - 2002. ANOVA analysis was employed and the performance of hybrids was observed in respect of main quantitative traits. The results obtained show significant superiority of new hybrids T$_{15}$ 4/${\times}$TBV$_{2}$24/, XT$_{215}$38/${\times}$TV$_{3}$2/, XT$_{215}$38/${\times}$B$_{2}$6/ and their reciprocal crosses over the control. They were characterized with 99% hatchability of eggs, 93-95% silkworm survival, 2.32- 2.42 g cocoon weight, 53.5-55.7 cg shell weight, 22.9-23.1% shell ratio, 1,307-1,326 m filament length, 3.08-3.17 denier, 95-96% reelability, 44.4-45.1% silk ratio, 569-593 number of normal eggs per lying and 347-364 mg weight of normal eggs per lying. Newly evolved hybrids were manifested high productivity, 41.0-43.6 kg cocoon yield and 7.33-7.78 kg raw silk yield per one box (20,000$\pm$200 viable eggs), which significant surpass the control Super$_1$${\times}$Hessa$_2$ hybrid with 7.6-14.4% and 10.8-17.6%, respectively. T$_{15}$ 4/${\times}$TBV$_{2}$24/ and XT$_{215}$38/${\times}$TV$_{3}$2/ were considered as highly productive hybrids to local conditions and found suitable to rear in spring season.n.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.10
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 1969

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the cocoon cooking by infra red ray heater established in to the cocoon boiling machine. The results were summarized as follows. 1. According to the cocoons, the non bave end breaking percentage of cocoons was increased to 5∼9％ in spring and 2∼10％ in autumn. 2. There was no significant in the raw silk percentage. 3. The irradiation effect by the number of infra-red ray heater was different, namely, the raw silk percentage of the excellent cocoons was increased in case of 1 Kwatt irradiation, and that of the inferior cocoons was increased in the 2 Kwatt irradiation. 4. Reeling efficiency was showed to 14％ maximum and 3％ minimum(index).

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 1984

Since 1966, practical use of active heavy analogs of the hormones has been also worked out as an insecticide and brought the features of it to the light as cocoon producer. On the other hand, it is expected to afford the increase of silk productivity resulted from control of the fifth larval period by delaying normal development. With these regards, some of analogs have been tried to apply practically to the silkworm for an increase of cocoon productivity. One of the synthesized juvenile hormone available is "Manina". And it is presently used for the increase of silk productivity in Korea. For the practical use, it is very essential the varietal differences in the increase of silk productivity by topical application was tested and the obtained results are summarized as follows. 1. It was evident that the fifty larval period was extended by topical application after 48 hrs. of the last ecdysis, ranging from 8 hrs. to one day, as compared to the control. 2. In pupal rates, there is no significance between control and treatments. It proved that there was no toxicity to silkworm by topical application in general, except jam 120. With regards to an increase of cocoon yield in Japanese, it was resulted from 17∼24% of cocoon yield from 10,000 larvae, as compared to that of control. In case of Chinese, the incrasing rates were varied from 15∼26% of cocoon yield, 17.8kg of it with 26% increase for Jam 122 and 16.7kg of it with 25% increase for Jam 118. In case of all hybrids, an increase of the cocoon yield took places from 20% to 31% and the weight of cocoon layer for the Japanese increased by 6 to 14%, those for the Chinese by 4 to 7% and those for the hybrids ranged from 21 to 29% increase. 3. It was recognized that the hybrid vigor rate took places with the hybrids between high responsing parents to juvenile hormones.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.20-28
• /
• 1999

Color qualities investigated on the basis of Munsell code and Korean standard color code for the cocoons from various strain of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. 16 of different color qualities were identified from 21 of original silworm strains, and determinated international name with the revision of Korean color name for cocoon. The various cocoon color confirmed on the sphere from 567 to 593 nm wavelength, 78% of those located at the region about 580 nm (575~584) of sensitive "color difference limen". Y gene engaged broad ranges of wavelength (575~593 nm) in the color expression, by contrast with other genes of Pk (593 nm), F (584~593), Grc and relative G group (567~570 nm), on the transmission of carotenoid or flavonoid color substance. YC gene expression by original silk worm strain was also distinguished by those variation of specific yellow than other colors from Grc, GaGb, Gc, and YPkF. Appearance of chrome yellow cocoon was dominant than other yellow in the cross among vivid yellow group. F1 of pin${\times}$green produced the cocoon of yellow such as "additive mixture" as color light, however, most of the hybrid between yellow cocoon showed the color similar to "subtractive mixture" as a mixture of dyestuff. Hybrid cocoons among yellow or green colors were decreased their hue, value, and chroma, than those of parent. Diallel cross among the strain of various green cocoon suggest the existence of Grc, Ga, Gb, Gc genes. Cream colored cocoon of B. mandarina was differed from other yellow cocoon of Bobyx mori B. mori. Y$^A$ with Ymc showed the similar role of Y with C, therefore, segregated yellow cocoon from the B. mori${\times}$B. mandarina (+$^YC/Y^AYmc$). YC expression of $Y^AY$mc genes might be suppressed by deficiency of outer layer sericin on the middle division of silk giand in the B. mandarina.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 2002

To understand the relationship among different quantitative traits, correlation studies were performed by utilizing eighty-eight inbred strains of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. on twelve economic characters. Analysis resulted in correlation of 5th instar period with total larval period (r ＝ 0.7882), cocoon weight with shell weight (r ＝ 0.8326), shell weight with shell ratio (r ＝ 0.5067), shell ratio with raw silk ％ (r ＝ 0.7570), raw silk ％ with filament length (r ＝ 0.3490), filament size (denier) with reelability (r ＝ 0.3193) and boil-off loss % (r ＝ 0.2792). Negative correlation was observed among filament length with filament size (r ＝ 0.7582) and reelability with boil-off loss % (r ＝ -0.3236). Correlation of different quantitative characters for quality silk production is discussed.