• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.180-185
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• 1996

Biosynthesis tracing of the silk fibroin in Bombyx mori silkworm was examined in vivo with isotopic [1-13C] Gly. labeling by nuclear magnetic resonance method. The [1-13C] Gly. labeled silk fibroin yielded very sharp 13C NMR signal in the posterior silk gland as well as in aqueous solution and the amound of [1-13C] Gly. labeled signal in the silkworm increased gradually and rapidly to 5-th day of fifth instar. However, the decomposition or decrease of the [1-13C] Gly. labeled signal occured from 5-th to 9-th day of fifth instar unexpectedly. These findings suggest that a relative amount of ${\alpha}$-helical portion or amorphous silk II portion was formed without any further signal from 6-th day of fifth instar to pupation. Through peak separation of orientation spectrum, between the fiber axis and the molecular bond direction, N-H bond in Bombyx mori silk fiber as well as the orientation distribution around the silk fibroin axis were determined and two kinds of peaks were also obtained from this orientation spectrum.