• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.51-55
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• 2019

The structure and properties of silk polymers (fibroin and sericin) can be satisfactorily controlled by choosing a suitable silkworm variety and, hence, this parameter (i.e., silkworm variety) has attracted increasing attention. A previous study reported that the crystallinity of white colored silkworm cocoons depends on the silkworm variety. In the present study, sixteen yellow colored silkworm variety cocoons were produced and their molecular conformation and crystallinity were investigated. The conformation of the silkworm cocoons varied with the silkworm variety. Most cocoons exhibited ${\beta}$-sheet conformation, although random coil and ${\beta}$-sheet conformations co-existed in some cocoons (e.g., 21 and D90). The crystallinity of the silkworm cocoons varied with the silkworm variety and the measurement position of the cocoon (i.e., outer surface or inner surface). However, the difference in the crystallinity indices of the outer and inner surfaces comprising the cocoons varied with the silkworm variety, but was <2% for all cocoons, except for MAL.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-23
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• 2011

In order to produce the colored cocoons we finalized the adequate amount of dyes throughout several trial and error experiments. The proper amount of each dye required for per 100 g of each colored cocoon turned out to be 150 mg of Rhodamine, 1560 mg of Thionin, 170 mg of Neutral red, and 200 mg of N-Blue, respectively. With this amount of dyes silkworms grew without physiological disorders. In order to produce colored cocoons, artificial diet composed mainly of mulberry leaves was fed to silkworms from the beginning of 5th instar, and subsequently fed with dye included diet from $4^{th}$ day of the 5th instar. This process resultantly produced colored silkworm body from the onset of feeding and subsequently colored cocoons and eggs. Nevertheless, the dye induced color was not inherited to next generation.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2013

The fluorescent proteins are generally denatured by heat treatment and thus lose their color. The normal reeling method includes processing by drying and cooking the cocoons near $100^{\circ}C$ before reeling. Therefore, the usual processing method cannot be used for making colored fluorescent silks. To develop a method that is applicable to producing transgenic silk without color loss, we develop reeling methods adequate for a recombinant fluorescence cocoons. It was found that the fluorescence cocoons keep their native color when dried at temperatures lower than $60^{\circ}C$ for 15 h. Also, a new cooking method to soften the fluorescent cocoons was developed: the cocoons were soaked in a solution of 0.2% sodium carbonate ($Na_2CO_3$)/0.1% nonionic surfactant (Triton X100) at $60^{\circ}C$ and then placed under vacuum. The repeated vacuum treatments enabled complete penetration of the solution into the cocoons, and the cocoons were thus homogenously softened and ready for reeling. In this state, the cooked cocoons can be reeled by an automated reeling machine. Our results suggest that drying and cooking of the cocoons at low temperature enables the subsequent reeling of the colored fluorescent silks by an automatic reeling machine without color loss and can produce silks that can be used for making higher value-added silk materials.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2019

Bombyx mori silkworm has many silkworm varieties and the structure and properties of silk can be varied depending on the silkworm variety. Therefore, the choice of proper silkworm variety can be an effective way to control and improve the performance of silk materials in biomedical and cosmetic applications. As a preliminary study, in the present study, thirty nine Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons were prepared and their molecular conformation and crystallinity were examined. Molecular conformation and the crystallinity of silkworm cocoons were different depending on the silkworm variety. Interestingly, the crystallinity index of outside of cocoon was different from that of inside of cocoon and the difference between the crystallinities of outside and inside of cocoon was varied depending on the silkworm variety. In this study, the silkworm variety cocoons were classified into three groups (Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3) based on the difference of crystallinities between outside and inside.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2016

The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori has been one of the most important domestic animals which have provided with silk fibers for weaving fabrics and a food for a protein and lipid source. In addition, various health improvement effects of diverse silkworm larval powders were reported. Recently we found that steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP) generated using white-jade (also known as Backokjam) silkworm variety extended healthspan and increased resistance to Parkinson's disease in animal models. Because the colors of cocoons in silkworm varieties were caused by altered signal transduction pathways transporting phytochemicals from intestinal lumens to silk glands, we performed the proximate, amino acid, mineral, carbohydrates, fatty acid, and cholesterol composition analyses of SMSPs of 3 silkworm varieties which were weaving light yellow, golden, and red cocoons. Although most of nutrient compositions among 3 SMSPs were similar, there were significant differences in certain amino acids, minerals, and fatty acid compositions. Red silk silkworm (RS)-SMSP had higher contents of crude proteins and total amino acids than other SMSPs. In addition, the ratio of n-3/n-6 unsaturated fatty acids were higher than the other SMSPs. In contrast Golden silk silkworm (GS)-SMSP had higher ratio of potassium/sodium than the other SMSPs. These nutrient analysis results suggested that 3 SMSPs might have common and unique health improvement effects. Thus, further studies in the functionalities of the 3 SMSPs will reveal unknown their health improvements effects.

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

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.71-73
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• 2007

In order to produce color cocoon, 3 rd day 5 th instar silkworm was cultivated with dye mixed artificial diet. Silkworm fed by artificial diet mixed with gardenia pigment spun blue colored cocoon, by Orange II orange cocoon, by methyl orange yellowish cocoon, and by Acid blue R bluish cocoon. Cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight ratio of silkworm fed by colored artificial diet were lower than those of normal silkworm.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2024

For over five millennia, humans have benefited from the valuable byproducts of Bombyx mori silkworms nourished on mulberry leaves and a multitude of potential applications remains available due to the diverse array of silkworm varieties. In this work, we discuss the utilization of Daehwangjam (DHJ), golden silk (GS), and Juhwangjam (JHJ), distinctive colored silks found in Korea, as chemosensors. These novel silks emit fluorescence under external stimuli and show a diminishing fluorescence intensity when exposed to HCl vapor. The considerable surface-to-volume ratio of these cocoons allows for the identification of 5 ppm, 300 ppm, and 3000 ppm HCl vapors through decreased fluorescence intensity. The results show the suitability of natural DHJ, GS, and JHJ for applications in biosensing applications.

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