• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2015

It is known that silk protein supports effectively proliferation of cell such as insect cell and hybridoma cell. Although there are many varieties of Bombyx mori silkworm, the effect of silkworm varieties on cell proliferation has not been considered in detail. We studied that characteristics of silk cocoon obtained from Baegokjam, Kumokjam, Daeseongjam silkworm varieties and whether silk protein affected cell proliferation or not. Silk sericin was prepared under high temperature and high pressure condition. Silk fibroin was prepared using $CaCl_2:H_2O:EtOH$ with different dissolution time. As a result, there are differences in silk cocoon from different silkworm varieties about cell proliferation. The proliferation was accelerated in the presence of Baegokjam silk sericin and Kumokjam silk fibroin with 5hr dissolution time. We expect that silk proteins could be a preferable culture medium supplement for stimulating the proliferation of cell. Then, this results suggest silk as a new material for medium supplement replacing with fetal bovine serum.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.17 no.2 s.81
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• pp.10-18
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• 2005

Silk fabrics mordanted with $Fe^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;and\;Cu^{2+}$ were dyed with the aqueous extract of Cassia tora L. seed which was known to include water soluble colorant kaempferol, one of flavonol compounds. Kaempferol can react with free radicals and chelate transition metal ions, which is thought to catalyze processes leading to the appearance of free radicals and have antioxidant activity. In relation to the coordinating and chelating mechanism of the ions with the silk protein and kaempferol, reasonable conclusions should be made on the colorant uptake and the water fastness of the fabric. The amount of the colorant on the fabric was in the order of $Fe^{2+}>Ni^{2+}>Cu^{2+}$. In case of dyeing through coordinaiton bonds between transition metal ions and silk protein and colorants, it was thought that the ions with the smaller secondary hydration shell, the higher preference to the atoms of the ligand coordinated, and the suitable bonding stability for the substitution of primarily hydrated water molecules for colorants led to the higher colorant uptake. The water fastnsess of the fabric was in the order of $Fe^{2+}>Cu^{2+}>Ni^{2+}$. It should be reasonable to choose transition metal ions with weak and strong tendency to the ionic and the coordination bond, respectively, to the carboxylate anion of the silk protein. Although further research needs to be done, the conclusions above may be generally applied to the natural dyeing through the coordination bond mechanism between transition metal ions and colorants and substrates.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

Tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury experiences extreme temperature stress conditions during its life cycle particularly during diapauses and first crop. The present study witnessed the impact of high temperature on some biochemical profiles and egg production (fecundity) of semi-domesticated Daba and Shorea robusta (Sal) based wild ecorace Laria during seed cocoon (pupa) preservation. Cocoons of Daba and Laria were treated with high temperature at $40^{\circ}C$ for 10 days in a BOD incubator. The protein profile and carbohydrate content in the hemolymph and fat body and total haemocyte count (THC) in the hemolymph of pupa were investigated. Further, the fecundity and fertility of egg was assessed. Significant increase in the protein concentration was observed in the hemolymph with reduction in the fat body (p<0.05). The difference in protein concentration was highly significant between the semidomesticated Daba and wild ecorace Laria (p<0.05). High pupal mortality (20%) and reduced fecundity (10-15%) in Daba was noticed compared to wild Laria. Also an increased THC (>28000) was recorded in Laria. The study infers the potentials of wild ecoraces in sustaining the extreme temperature conditions and need of adopting suitable package of practices for the preservation of diapause seed cocoons during extreme summer conditions. There is possibility to introgression thermal stress resistant traits in the semi-domesticated races of tasar silkworm by resorting to conventional breeding plans with wild races and keeping the thermal stress induced response as markers.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2014

We constructed the fibroin H-chain expression system to produce enhanced yellow fluorescent proteins (EYFP) in the silk of transgenic silkworm. Fluorescent silk could be made by fusing EYFP cDNA to the heavy chain gene and injecting it into a silkworm. The EYFP 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 EYFP/H-chain fusion gene was regulated by the fibroin H-chain promoter. The yellow fluorescence proving that the fusion protein was present in the silk. Accordingly, we suggest that the EYFP fluorescence silk will enable the production of novel biomaterial based on the transgenic silk.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.217-228
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• 2019

There have been no published studies concerning the anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk on colon cancer cells. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of corn silk extract containing high levels of maysin on inflammation and its mechanism of action in colon cancer cells. SW 480 human colon cancer cells were treated with $1{\mu}g/mL$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, and next they were treated with different concentrations of corn silk extract (0, 5, 10 and $15{\mu}g/mL$). The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) were determined. The mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-1beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were determined. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinases, and the latter consists of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase (p38). The concentration of NO and the mRNA expression of iNOS were significantly and dose-dependently decreased in the corn silk-treated groups (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were significantly increased in the LPS-treated group (P<0.05), but these expressions were significantly and dose-dependently decreased in the corn silk treated groups (P<0.05). The protein expressions of $NF-{\kappa}B$ (in a dose-dependent fashion), ERK (at 10 and $15{\mu}g/mL$), JNK (at $15{\mu}g/mL$) and p38 (at 10 and $15{\mu}g/mL$) were significantly decreased with corn silk treatments (P<0.05). In conclusion, corn silk extract containing high levels of maysin seems to inhibit the LPS-induced inflammatory responses in SW480 colon cancer cells via the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 1976

In this study several kinds of spun silk yarn-synthetic filament compounded yarn was manufactured, and several fabrics woven from above mentioned silk compound yarn for evaluation of serviceability as clothing materials. The following results were obtained: 1. Degumming agents are in the order of sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbornate, soap and water. 2. When the concentration of sodium hydroxide is exceeded 3%, degradation of floss silk property is resulted because of excessive dissolving out of silk protein. 3. Degumming effect is much improved by concentration of degumming agent and less by its treating time. 4. Simultaneous application of more the 2 kinds of degumming agent is desirable for improvement of floss silk. 5. Application of natural organic acid brings very good results in keeping original scooping and color of the silk. 6. Load and elongation it increased by compound with synthetic filament yarn. 7. Even the evenness of compound yarn is largely dependent on the quality of floss silk and extent of degumming, the C.V.% of silk compound yarn in the experiment was 8-12%. 8. Single bath dyeing technique was impossible for their cloth, and dyeing was performed in 2 bath system separately for silk and synthetic fiber. 9. Shrinkage ratio due to the dyeing of fabric was 23% in case of polyester and spun silk fabric. 10. The final woven cloth can be applicable to (a) Blouse in care of thin cloth (compound silk fabric) (b) Korean costume for women in case of thick cloth. (compound hand spun silk fabric)

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

Silk proteins consist of two major proteins, fibroin and sericin. There is currently an enormous reawakening of interest in these silk proteins as a biomaterial due to their mechanical and biological properties based on the detailed findings. Novel method for determination of the crystalline structure of silk proteins in an atomic level using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was reviewed. Recent application of silks to biomaterials and prospects for future were discussed.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.74-76
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• 2007

Antheraea yamamai silk fibroin powder was prepared by treatment with HCl. Amino acid contents of the prepared Antheraea yamamai fibroin hydrolysates were composed of Gly, Ala, Glu, and so on. Biological activities of Antheraea yamamai silk fiborin powder were examined. It is showed about 75% of antioxidation activity compared to the reference ascorbic acid. And it lowered blood glucose level down from 550 mg/dl to 300 mg/dl by serving with wild silk protein.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of silk fibroin powder on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in serum of rats. Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats (160${\pm}$10 g) were fed experimental diets (SFP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups)added 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. Triglyceride levels were remarkably inhibited (15∼25%) in SFP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups compared with control group. Hydroxyl radical ($.$OH) formations resulted in a marked decrease (15%∼25%) compared with control group, while superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide formations resulted in a significant decrease (6∼12% and 10%). Lipid peroxide and oxidized protein (>C=O group) productions resulted in a significant decrease (6∼12% and 6%) compared with control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were remarkably increased (35∼55% and 40∼50%), but glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) activities were significantly increased (13%) compared with control group. These results suggest that anti-aging effect of silk fibroin powder (SFP) may play a pivotal role in attenuating a various age-related changes.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.229-234
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• 2008

We used serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) approach to derive a profile of expressed genes of the posterior silk glands (PSG) and to create a reference for understanding gene cluster related to the mechanism of silk protein synthesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We constructed a 3' SAGE library from the PSG of the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm. In total we obtained 2,406 SAGE tags, of which 682 were unique tags. Sorted by tag count number, 27 (4%) unique tags were significantly more abundant genes (ten or more times), whereas 445 (65%) unique tags were detected as single copies. The annotation of 682 unique SAGE tags revealed that 462 (68%) of the SAGE tag sequences represented known genes, whereas 220 (32%) of the tag sequences had no matches in SAGE map and silkworm EST databases. Of the 682 SAGE tags, the most abundant tag sequences were that of the fibroin light chain gene and the silk protein P25. In addition, we compared two relative abundance results of the SAGE and the EST approaches to verify whether their transcript quantitative aspects are significant or not. The comparative results of relative abundances of the fibroin H-, L- chain and P25 glycoprotein genes indicated that the quantitative approach based on SAGE tags is effective for quantitative cataloging and comparison of expressed genes in same organs. The SAGE tag information reported in this study would be useful for researchers in the field to analyze genes associated with silk processing mechanisms of insects.