The Impact of Temperature and Pressure on the Structural Stability of Solvated Solid-State Conformations of Silk Fibroins: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

silk fibroin is a promising biopolymer with notable mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and potential for diverse biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery. These properties are intrinsically linked to the structural characteristics of silk fibroin, making it essential to understand its molecular stability under varying environmental conditions. This study employed molecular dynamics simulations to examine the structural stability of silk I and silk II conformations of silk fibroin under changes in temperature (298 K to 378 K) and pressure (0.

Antioxidant and cholesterol regulatory effect of flavonoid-rich silk sericin.

Cholesterol is a component of cell membranes and a precursor of hormones, and excess levels are associated with disease development; therefore, it must be maintained within the normal range. Silkworm cocoons are known to contain bioactive substances. Therefore, we compared the bioactivities of pigmented and white silkworm cocoons.

Chitosan Extracted from the Biomass of Larvae as a Sustainable Packaging Film.

Waste from non-degradable packaging materials poses a serious environmental risk and has led to interest in developing sustainable bio-based packaging materials. Sustainable packaging materials have been made from diverse naturally derived materials such as bamboo, sugarcane, and corn starch. In this study, we made a sustainable packaging film using chitosan extracted from the biomass of yellow mealworm () shell waste.

Modulatory Effects of the Kuwanon-Rich Fraction from Mulberry Root Bark on the Renin-Angiotensin System.

In this study, we investigated the anti-hypertensive properties of mulberry products by modulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Comparative analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fractions, particularly from the Cheongil and Daeshim cultivars, contained the highest levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with concentrations reaching 110 mg gallic acid equivalent (GE)/g and 471 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g of extract, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed superior angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, mainly because of the presence of the prenylated flavonoids kuwanon G and H.

Customized Integrating-Sphere System for Absolute Color Measurement of Silk Cocoon with Corrugated Microstructure.

Silk fiber, recognized as a versatile bioresource, holds wide-ranging significance in agriculture and the textile industry. During the breeding of silkworms to yield new varieties, optical sensing techniques have been employed to distinguish the colors of silk cocoons, aiming to assess their improved suitability across diverse industries. Despite visual comparison retaining its primary role in differentiating colors among a range of silk fibers, the presence of uneven surface texture leads to color distortion and inconsistent color perception at varying viewing angles.

Molecular diagnosis of 5 silkworm strains endemic to South Korea using single-nucleotide polymorphisms selected from whole-genome sequences.

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), often poses a challenge in strain identification due to similarities in morphology and genetic background. In South Korea, around 40 silkworm strains are classified as premium, including 5 endemic tri-molting strains: Goryeosammyeon, Sammyeonhonghoeback, Hansammyeon, Sun7ho, and Sandongsammyeon. These strains have potential for breeding programs in response to emerging industry demands, necessitating a reliable strain identification method.

Use of a Silkworm () Larvae By-Product for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: Inhibition of NF-κB Nuclear Translocation and MAPK Signaling.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-lasting inflammatory skin disease that contributes to the global health burden and impacts 10-20% of the world's population. In this study, we determined the anti-AD effect of a by-product of silkworm () larval powder, strain Yeonnokjam (SLPY), as a sustainable, natural source for the development of therapeutic agents for AD. HaCaT cells were used to assess the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of SLPY, and a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced mouse model was used to study the in vivo anti-AD effects.

Structural Characteristics and Properties of Cocoon and Regenerated Silk Fibroin from Different Silkworm Strains.

Silk has attracted the attention of researchers as a biomedical and cosmetic material because of its good biocompatibility and cytocompatibility. Silk is produced from the cocoons of silkworms, which have various strains. In this study, silkworm cocoons and silk fibroins (SFs) were obtained from ten silkworm strains, and their structural characteristics and properties were examined.

Edible Matrix Code with Photogenic Silk Proteins.

Counterfeit medicines are a healthcare security problem, posing not only a direct threat to patient safety and public health but also causing heavy economic losses. Current anticounterfeiting methods are limited due to the toxicity of the constituent materials and the focus of secondary packaging level protections. We introduce an edible, imperceptible, and scalable matrix code of information representation and data storage for pharmaceutical products.

Biocompatible fluorescent silk fibroin bioink for digital light processing 3D printing.

Chemically modified silk fibroin (SF) bioink has been used for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and printability. Also, fluorescent silk fibroin (FSF) from transgenic silkworms has been recently applied in biomedicine because of its fluorescence property. However, the fabrication of fluorescent hydrogel from FSF has not been elucidated.

Whole-genome sequences of 37 breeding line Bombyx mori strains and their phenotypes established since 1960s.

Bombyx mori is a key insect in the sericulture industry and one of the very important economic animals that are responsible for not only the livelihood of many farmers internationally but also expended biomedical use. The National Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the Rural Development Administration of Korea (NIAS, RDA, Korea) has been collecting silkworm resources with various phenotypic traits from the 1960s and established breeding lines for using them as genetic resources. And these breeding line strains have been used to develop suitable F1 hybrid strains for specific use.

Phylogeographic Relationships among (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) Populations and Their Relationships to Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes.

We report 37 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of strains (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and four of individuals, each preserved and collected, respectively, in South Korea. These mitogenome sequences combined with 45 public data showed a substantial genetic reduction in strains compared to the presumed ancestor , with the highest diversity detected in the Chinese origin . Chinese were divided into northern and southern groups, concordant to the Qinling-Huaihe line, and the northern group was placed as an immediate progenitor of monophyletic strains in phylogenetic analyses, as has previously been detected.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the highly fecund linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) strain Jam 146.

To meet the increasing demands of the society in the current era, new strains of the domesticated silkworm Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) are being continuously bred. Consequently, cataloging the genetic information of pure lines is essential. The strain Jam 146, whose larvae have atypical pale, crescent-shaped body markings, is an important breeding resource due to its excellent fecundity.

Bombyx mori kynurenine 3-monooxygenase gene editing and insect molecular breeding using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR associated protein 9 system.

Genome editing by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas)9, a third-generation gene scissors, and molecular breeding at the genome level are attracting considerable attention as future breeding techniques. In the present study, genetic and phenotypic analyses were conducted to examine the molecular breeding of Bombyx mori through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) gene. The synthesized guide RNAs (gRNAs) were analyzed using T7 endonuclease I after introduction into the BM-N silkworm cell line.

Photoelectric Silk via Genetic Encoding and Bioassisted Plasmonics.

Genetically encoded photoelectric silk that can convert photons to electrons (light to electricity) over a wide visible range in a self-power mode is reported. As silk is a versatile host material with electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, and processability, a photoelectric protein is genetically fused with silk by silkworm transgenesis. Specifically, mKate2, which is conventionally known as a far-red fluorescent protein, is used as a photoelectric protein.

Edible unclonable functions.

Counterfeit medicines are a fundamental security problem. Counterfeiting medication poses a tremendous threat to patient safety, public health, and the economy in developed and less developed countries. Current solutions are often vulnerable due to the limited security levels.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the silkworm strain, Chilseongjam (: ), with a unique larval body marking.

Recently, a new silkworm strain with a peculiar larval marking and rare cocoon colour was bred in Korea for educational learning and exhibition. In order to obtain the genetic information of the newly bred strain, Chilseongjam (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), its complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) was sequenced. The mitogenome is 15,660 bp in length, contains a typical set of genes, and has gene arrangement and composition typical of Lepidoptera.

Esophageal Perforation after Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective case analyses.

Purpose: To investigate the causes, diagnosis, and management of esophageal perforation, depending on the time of diagnosis.

Overview Of Literature: To date, few studies have addressed these issues.

Visible light biophotosensors using biliverdin from Antheraea yamamai.

We report an endogenous photoelectric biomolecule and demonstrate that such a biomolecule can be used to detect visible light. We identify the green pigment abundantly present in natural silk cocoons of Antheraea yamamai (Japanese oak silkmoth) as biliverdin, using mass spectroscopy and optical spectroscopy. Biliverdin extracted from the green silk cocoons generates photocurrent upon light illumination with distinct colors.

Green-Light-Activated Photoreaction via Genetic Hybridization of Far-Red Fluorescent Protein and Silk.

Fluorescent proteins often result in phototoxicity and cytotoxicity, in particular because some red fluorescent proteins produce and release reactive oxygen species (ROS). The photogeneration of ROS is considered as a detrimental side effect in cellular imaging or is proactively utilized for ablating cancerous tissue. As ancient textiles or biomaterials, silk produced by silkworms can directly be used as fabrics or be processed into materials and structures to host other functional nanomaterials.

Publisher Correction: Anderson light localization in biological nanostructures of native silk.

The original PDF version of this Article contained errors in Equations 1 and 2. Both equations omitted all Γ terms. This has been corrected in the PDF version of the Article.

Anderson light localization in biological nanostructures of native silk.

Light in biological media is known as freely diffusing because interference is negligible. Here, we show Anderson light localization in quasi-two-dimensional protein nanostructures produced by silkworms (Bombyx mori). For transmission channels in native silk, the light flux is governed by a few localized modes.

Genome sequence of the Japanese oak silk moth, Antheraea yamamai: the first draft genome in the family Saturniidae.

Background: Antheraea yamamai, also known as the Japanese oak silk moth, is a wild species of silk moth. Silk produced by A. yamamai, referred to as tensan silk, shows different characteristics such as thickness, compressive elasticity, and chemical resistance compared with common silk produced from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Novel fabrication of fluorescent silk utilized in biotechnological and medical applications.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural polymer widely used and studied for diverse applications in the biomedical field. Recently, genetically modified silks, particularly fluorescent SF fibers, were reported to have been produced from transgenic silkworms. However, they are currently limited to textile manufacturing.