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Rouhová L, Podlahová Š, Kmet P, Žurovec M, Sehadová H, Sauman I. A comprehensive gene expression analysis of the unique three-layered cocoon of the cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 171:104152. [PMID: 38944399 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
The larvae of the moth Hyalophora cecropia spin silk cocoons with morphologically distinct layers. We investigated the expression of the individual silk protein components of these cocoons in relation to the morphology of the silk gland and its affiliation to the different layers of the cocoon. The study used transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify 91 proteins associated with the silk cocoons, 63 of which have a signal peptide indicating their secretory nature. We checked the specificity of their expression in different parts of the SG and the presence of the corresponding protein products in each cocoon layer. Differences were observed among less abundant proteins with unclear functions. The representation of proteins in the inner envelope and intermediate space was similar, except for a higher proportion of probable contaminating proteins, mostly originating from the gut. On the other hand, the outer envelope contains a number of putative enzymes with unclear function. However, the protein most specific to the outer layer has sequence homology to putative serine/threonine kinase-like proteins and some adhesive proteins, and its closest homolog in Bombyx mori was found in the scaffold silk. This research provides valuable insights into the silk production of the cecropia moth, highlighting both similarities and differences to other moth species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Rouhová
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Podlahová
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Kmet
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Žurovec
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Hana Sehadová
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Ivo Sauman
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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2
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Rouhova L, Zurovcova M, Hradilova M, Sery M, Sehadova H, Zurovec M. Comprehensive analysis of silk proteins and gland compartments in Limnephilus lunatus, a case-making trichopteran. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:472. [PMID: 38745159 PMCID: PMC11092239 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Caddisfly larvae produce silk containing heavy and light fibroins, similar to the silk of Lepidoptera, for the construction of underwater structures. We analyzed the silk of Limnephilus lunatus belonging to the case-forming suborder Integripalpia. We analyzed the transcriptome, mapped the transcripts to a reference genome and identified over 80 proteins using proteomic methods, and checked the specificity of their expression. For comparison, we also analyzed the transcriptome and silk proteome of Limnephilus flavicornis. Our results show that fibroins and adhesives are produced together in the middle and posterior parts of the silk glands, while the anterior part produces enzymes and an unknown protein AT24. The number of silk proteins of L. lunatus far exceeds that of the web-spinning Plectrocnemia conspersa, a previously described species from the suborder Annulipalpia. Our results support the idea of increasing the structural complexity of silk in rigid case builders compared to trap web builders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Rouhova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Zurovcova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miluse Hradilova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Sery
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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Deng Y, Zhang C, Lv L, Wang K, Liu F, Zhou Y, Peng Z, Wang B. In situ detection of silk fibroin using a dual recognition strategy with a flexible pressure immunosensor. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024; 16:1185-1195. [PMID: 38305686 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay01967e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Silk is a symbol of ancient Chinese civilization that has made an indelible contribution to the development of world civilization. However, because ancient artifacts are often contaminated or degraded, it is difficult to detect the presence of silk therein, and the true origin of silk thus remains a mystery. Therefore, this work presents a flexible pressure immunosensor that was designed based on 3D polypyrrole (PPy) foams for the trace detection of silk fibroin at archaeological sites. Initially, silk fibroin (SF) was conjugated with antibody-functionalized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and carboxylated magnetic beads (MBs) to form a sandwich immune complex. Then, the sandwich immune complex was added to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by magnetic separation to catalyse the generation of oxygen (O2), which converted the antigen-antibody specific recognition signal to gas pressure. As the pressure within the device increases, the 3D PPy foam, as the sensing layer resistance was 150 Ω, undergoes extrusion and deformation. This deformation leads to alterations in the foam resistance. The flexible pressure immunosensor can sensitively monitor the change in electrical resistance in the system and quantitatively detect silk fibroin. With optimization, the flexible pressure immunosensor demonstrates a dynamic range of operation spanning from 10 ng mL-1 to 100 μg mL-1, exhibiting a remarkable detection limit of 10.58 ng mL-1 specifically for silk fibroin. Notably, this immunosensor surpasses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in terms of superior reproducibility, specificity, and accuracy. Therefore, this application provides a new method and technical support for silk detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yefeng Deng
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Chao Zhang
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Lianpeng Lv
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Feng Liu
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Zhiqin Peng
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Bing Wang
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
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Kmet P, Kucerova L, Sehadova H, Chia-Hsiang Wu B, Wu YL, Zurovec M. Identification of Silk Components in the Bombycoid Moth Andraca theae (Endromidae) Reveals Three Fibroin Subunits Resembling Those of Bombycidae and Sphingidae. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 147:104523. [PMID: 37187341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The silk produced by Lepidoptera caterpillars is a mixture of proteins secreted by the transformed labial glands, the silk glands (SG). The silk fiber consists of insoluble filamentous proteins that form a silk core and are produced in the posterior part of the SG and soluble coat proteins consisting of sericins and various other polypeptides secreted in the middle part of the SG. We constructed a silk gland specific transcriptome of Andraca theae and created a protein database required for peptide mass fingerprinting. We identified major silk components by proteomic analysis of cocoon silk and by searching for homologies with known silk protein sequences from other species. We identified 30 proteins including a heavy chain fibroin, a light chain fibroin and fibrohexamerin (P25) that form the silk core, as well as members of several structural families that form the silk coating. To uncover the evolutionary relationships among silk proteins, we included orthologs of silk genes from several recent genome projects and performed phylogenetic analyses. Our results confirm the recent molecular classification that the family Endromidae appears to be slightly more distant from the family Bombycidae. Our study provides important information on the evolution of silk proteins in the Bombycoidea, which is needed for proper annotation of the proteins and future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kmet
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Kucerova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bulah Chia-Hsiang Wu
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yueh-Lung Wu
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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Genome sequence and silkomics of the spindle ermine moth, Yponomeuta cagnagella, representing the early diverging lineage of the ditrysian Lepidoptera. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1281. [PMID: 36418465 PMCID: PMC9684489 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lepidopteran species produce silk, cocoons, feeding tubes, or nests for protection from predators and parasites for caterpillars and pupae. Yet, the number of lepidopteran species whose silk composition has been studied in detail is very small, because the genes encoding the major structural silk proteins tend to be large and repetitive, making their assembly and sequence analysis difficult. Here we have analyzed the silk of Yponomeuta cagnagella, which represents one of the early diverging lineages of the ditrysian Lepidoptera thus improving the coverage of the order. To obtain a comprehensive list of the Y. cagnagella silk genes, we sequenced and assembled a draft genome using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies. We used a silk-gland transcriptome and a silk proteome to identify major silk components and verified the tissue specificity of expression of individual genes. A detailed annotation of the major genes and their putative products, including their complete sequences and exon-intron structures is provided. The morphology of silk glands and fibers are also shown. This study fills an important gap in our growing understanding of the structure, evolution, and function of silk genes and provides genomic resources for future studies of the chemical ecology of Yponomeuta species.
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Croft AS, Spessot E, Bhattacharjee P, Yang Y, Motta A, Wöltje M, Gantenbein B. Biomedical applications of silk and its role for intervertebral disc repair. JOR Spine 2022; 5:e1225. [PMID: 36601376 PMCID: PMC9799090 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is the main contributor to chronic low back pain. To date, the present therapies mainly focus on treating the symptoms caused by IDD rather than addressing the problem itself. For this reason, researchers have searched for a suitable biomaterial to repair and/or regenerate the IVD. A promising candidate to fill this gap is silk, which has already been used as a biomaterial for many years. Therefore, this review aims first to elaborate on the different origins from which silk is harvested, the individual composition, and the characteristics of each silk type. Another goal is to enlighten why silk is so suitable as a biomaterial, discuss its functionalization, and how it could be used for tissue engineering purposes. The second part of this review aims to provide an overview of preclinical studies using silk-based biomaterials to repair the inner region of the IVD, the nucleus pulposus (NP), and the IVD's outer area, the annulus fibrosus (AF). Since the NP and the AF differ fundamentally in their structure, different therapeutic approaches are required. Consequently, silk-containing hydrogels have been used mainly to repair the NP, and silk-based scaffolds have been used for the AF. Although most preclinical studies have shown promising results in IVD-related repair and regeneration, their clinical transition is yet to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas S. Croft
- Tissue Engineering for Orthopaedic & Mechanobiology, Bone & Joint Program, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), Medical FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Eugenia Spessot
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly
| | - Promita Bhattacharjee
- Department of Chemical SciencesSSPC the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, Bernal Institute, University of LimerickLimerickIreland
| | - Yuejiao Yang
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly,INSTM, Trento Research Unit, Interuniversity Consortium for Science and Technology of MaterialsTrentoItaly
| | - Antonella Motta
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly,INSTM, Trento Research Unit, Interuniversity Consortium for Science and Technology of MaterialsTrentoItaly
| | - Michael Wöltje
- Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material TechnologyDresdenGermany
| | - Benjamin Gantenbein
- Tissue Engineering for Orthopaedic & Mechanobiology, Bone & Joint Program, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), Medical FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, InselspitalBern University Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of BernBernSwitzerland
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Stewart RJ, Frandsen PB, Pauls SU, Heckenhauer J. Conservation of Three-Dimensional Structure of Lepidoptera and Trichoptera L-Fibroins for 290 Million Years. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27185945. [PMID: 36144689 PMCID: PMC9504780 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The divergence of sister orders Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) from a silk-spinning ancestor occurred around 290 million years ago. Trichoptera larvae are mainly aquatic, and Lepidoptera larvae are almost entirely terrestrial—distinct habitats that required molecular adaptation of their silk for deployment in water and air, respectively. The major protein components of their silks are heavy chain and light chain fibroins. In an effort to identify molecular changes in L-fibroins that may have contributed to the divergent use of silk in water and air, we used the ColabFold implementation of AlphaFold2 to predict three-dimensional structures of L-fibroins from both orders. A comparison of the structures revealed that despite the ancient divergence, profoundly different habitats, and low sequence conservation, a novel 10-helix core structure was strongly conserved in L-fibroins from both orders. Previously known intra- and intermolecular disulfide linkages were accurately predicted. Structural variations outside of the core may represent molecular changes that contributed to the evolution of insect silks adapted to water or air. The distributions of electrostatic potential, for example, were not conserved and present distinct order-specific surfaces for potential interactions with or modulation by external factors. Additionally, the interactions of L-fibroins with the H-fibroin C-termini are different for these orders; lepidopteran L-fibroins have N-terminal insertions that are not present in trichopteran L-fibroins, which form an unstructured ribbon in isolation but become part of an intermolecular β-sheet when folded with their corresponding H-fibroin C-termini. The results are an example of protein structure prediction from deep sequence data of understudied proteins made possible by AlphaFold2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J. Stewart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Paul B. Frandsen
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84062, USA
| | - Steffen U. Pauls
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Heckenhauer
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
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Nili E, Harkin DG, Dawson RA, Richardson NA, Suzuki S, Chirila TV. Membranes Prepared from Recombinant RGD-Silk Fibroin as Substrates for Human Corneal Cells. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26226810. [PMID: 34833901 PMCID: PMC8618149 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A recombinant formulation of silk fibroin containing the arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) cell-binding motif (RGD-fibroin) offers potential advantages for the cultivation of corneal cells. Thus, we investigated the growth of corneal stromal cells and epithelial cells on surfaces created from RGD-fibroin, in comparison to the naturally occurring Bombyx mori silk fibroin. The attachment of cells was compared in the presence or absence of serum over a 90 min period and analyzed by quantification of dsDNA content. Stratification of epithelial cells on freestanding membranes was examined by confocal fluorescence microscopy and optimized through use of low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG; 300 Da) as a porogen, the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a crosslinking agent, and stromal cells grown on the opposing membrane surface. The RGD-fibroin reduced the tendency of stromal cell cultures to form clumps and encouraged the stratification of epithelial cells. PEG used in conjunction with HRP supported the fabrication of more permeable freestanding RGD-fibroin membranes, that provide an effective scaffold for stromal–epithelial co-cultures. Our studies encourage the use of RGD-fibroin for corneal cell culture. Further studies are required to confirm if the benefits of this formulation are due to changes in the expression of integrins, components of the extracellular matrix, or other events at the transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Nili
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; (E.N.); (D.G.H.); (R.A.D.); (N.A.R.)
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Damien G. Harkin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; (E.N.); (D.G.H.); (R.A.D.); (N.A.R.)
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Rebecca A. Dawson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; (E.N.); (D.G.H.); (R.A.D.); (N.A.R.)
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Neil A. Richardson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; (E.N.); (D.G.H.); (R.A.D.); (N.A.R.)
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Shuko Suzuki
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Traian V. Chirila
- Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
- School of Chemistry & Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Molecular Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, George E. Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science & Technology, 540139 Târgu Mureş, Romania
- Correspondence:
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Naskar D, Sapru S, Ghosh AK, Reis RL, Dey T, Kundu SC. Nonmulberry silk proteins: multipurpose ingredient in bio-functional assembly. Biomed Mater 2021; 16. [PMID: 34428758 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac20a0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The emerging field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicines utilising artificial polymers is facing many problems. Despite having mechanical stability, non-toxicity and biodegradability, most of them lack cytocompatibility and biocompatibility. Natural polymers (such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, fibrin, fibroin, and others), including blends, are introduced to the field to solve some of the relevant issues. Another natural biopolymer: silkworm silk gained special attention primarily due to its specific biophysical, biochemical, and material properties, worldwide availability, and cost-effectiveness. Silk proteins, namely fibroin and sericin extracted from domesticated mulberry silkwormBombyx mori, are studied extensively in the last few decades for tissue engineering. Wild nonmulberry silkworm species, originated from India and other parts of the world, also produce silk proteins with variations in their nature and properties. Among the nonmulberry silkworm species,Antheraea mylitta(Indian Tropical Tasar),A. assamensis/A. assama(Indian Muga), andSamia ricini/Philosamia ricini(Indian Eri), along withA. pernyi(Chinese temperate Oak Tasar/Tussah) andA. yamamai(Japanese Oak Tasar) exhibit inherent tripeptide motifs of arginyl glycyl aspartic acid in their fibroin amino acid sequences, which support their candidacy as the potential biomaterials. Similarly, sericin isolated from such wild species delivers unique properties and is used as anti-apoptotic and growth-inducing factors in regenerative medicines. Other characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-inflammatory nature make it suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine based applications. A diverse range of matrices, including but not limited to nano-micro scale structures, nanofibres, thin films, hydrogels, and porous scaffolds, are prepared from the silk proteins (fibroins and sericins) for biomedical and tissue engineering research. This review aims to represent the progress made in medical and non-medical applications in the last couple of years and depict the present status of the investigations on Indian nonmulberry silk-based matrices as a particular reference due to its remarkable potentiality of regeneration of different types of tissues. It also discusses the future perspective in tissue engineering and regenerative medicines in the context of developing cutting-edge techniques such as 3D printing/bioprinting, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip, and other electronics, optical and thermal property-based applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deboki Naskar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.,Present address: Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Sunaina Sapru
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.,Present address: Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IL, Israel
| | - Ananta K Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3Bs Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark-4805-017 Barco, Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Tuli Dey
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.,3Bs Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark-4805-017 Barco, Guimaraes, Portugal
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10
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Zabelina V, Takasu Y, Sehadova H, Yonemura N, Nakajima K, Sezutsu H, Sery M, Zurovec M, Sehnal F, Tamura T. Mutation in Bombyx mori fibrohexamerin (P25) gene causes reorganization of rough endoplasmic reticulum in posterior silk gland cells and alters morphology of fibroin secretory globules in the silk gland lumen. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 135:103607. [PMID: 34102294 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Larvae of many lepidopteran species produce a mixture of secretory proteins, known as silk, for building protective shelters and cocoons. Silk consists of a water-insoluble silk filament core produced in the posterior silk gland (PSG) and a sticky hydrophilic coating produced by the middle silk gland (MSG). In Bombyx mori, the fiber core comprises three proteins: heavy chain fibroin (Fib-H), light chain fibroin (Fib-L) and fibrohexamerin (Fhx, previously referred to as P25). To learn more about the role of Fhx, we used transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) mutagenesis and prepared a homozygous line with a null mutation in the Fhx gene. Our characterization of cocoon morphology and silk quality showed that the mutation had very little effect. However, a detailed inspection of the secretory cells in the posterior silk gland (PSG) of mid-last-instar mutant larvae revealed temporary changes in the morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum. We also observed a morphological difference in fibroin secretory globules stored in the PSG lumen of Fhx mutants, which suggests that their fibroin complexes have a slightly lower solubility. Finally, we performed an LC-MS-based quantitative proteomic analysis comparing mutant and wild-type (wt) cocoon proteins and found a high abundance of a 16 kDa secretory protein likely involved in fibroin solubility. Overall, our study shows that whilst Fhx is dispensable for silk formation, it contributes to the stability of fibroin complexes during intracellular transport and affects the morphology of fibroin secretory globules in the PSG lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriya Zabelina
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan; Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yoko Takasu
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hana Sehadova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Naoyuki Yonemura
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Kenichi Nakajima
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hideki Sezutsu
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Michal Sery
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Frantisek Sehnal
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Toshiki Tamura
- Institute of Sericulture, Iikura 1053, 300-0324, Ami-machi, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Comparison of Silks from Pseudoips prasinana and Bombyx mori Shows Molecular Convergence in Fibroin Heavy Chains but Large Differences in Other Silk Components. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158246. [PMID: 34361011 PMCID: PMC8347419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lepidopteran larvae produce silk feeding shelters and cocoons to protect themselves and the developing pupa. As caterpillars evolved, the quality of the silk, shape of the cocoon, and techniques in forming and leaving the cocoon underwent a number of changes. The silk of Pseudoips prasinana has previously been studied using X-ray analysis and classified in the same category as that of Bombyx mori, suggesting that silks of both species have similar properties despite their considerable phylogenetic distance. In the present study, we examined P. prasinana silk using 'omics' technology, including silk gland RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and a mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of cocoon proteins. We found that although the central repetitive amino acid sequences encoding crystalline domains of fibroin heavy chain molecules are almost identical in both species, the resulting fibers exhibit quite different mechanical properties. Our results suggest that these differences are most probably due to the higher content of fibrohexamerin and fibrohexamerin-like molecules in P. prasinana silk. Furthermore, we show that whilst P. prasinana cocoons are predominantly made of silk similar to that of other Lepidoptera, they also contain a second, minor silk type, which is present only at the escape valve.
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Rodriguez-Cabello JC, Gonzalez De Torre I, González-Pérez M, González-Pérez F, Montequi I. Fibrous Scaffolds From Elastin-Based Materials. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:652384. [PMID: 34336798 PMCID: PMC8323661 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.652384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Current cutting-edge strategies in biomaterials science are focused on mimicking the design of natural systems which, over millions of years, have evolved to exhibit extraordinary properties. Based on this premise, one of the most challenging tasks is to imitate the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), due to its ubiquitous character and its crucial role in tissue integrity. The anisotropic fibrillar architecture of the ECM has been reported to have a significant influence on cell behaviour and function. A new paradigm that pivots around the idea of incorporating biomechanical and biomolecular cues into the design of biomaterials and systems for biomedical applications has emerged in recent years. Indeed, current trends in materials science address the development of innovative biomaterials that include the dynamics, biochemistry and structural features of the native ECM. In this context, one of the most actively studied biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications are nanofiber-based scaffolds. Herein we provide a broad overview of the current status, challenges, manufacturing methods and applications of nanofibers based on elastin-based materials. Starting from an introduction to elastin as an inspiring fibrous protein, as well as to the natural and synthetic elastin-based biomaterials employed to meet the challenge of developing ECM-mimicking nanofibrous-based scaffolds, this review will follow with a description of the leading strategies currently employed in nanofibrous systems production, which in the case of elastin-based materials are mainly focused on supramolecular self-assembly mechanisms and the use of advanced manufacturing technologies. Thus, we will explore the tendency of elastin-based materials to form intrinsic fibers, and the self-assembly mechanisms involved. We will describe the function and self-assembly mechanisms of silk-like motifs, antimicrobial peptides and leucine zippers when incorporated into the backbone of the elastin-based biomaterial. Advanced polymer-processing technologies, such as electrospinning and additive manufacturing, as well as their specific features, will be presented and reviewed for the specific case of elastin-based nanofiber manufacture. Finally, we will present our perspectives and outlook on the current challenges facing the development of nanofibrous ECM-mimicking scaffolds based on elastin and elastin-like biomaterials, as well as future trends in nanofabrication and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Rodriguez-Cabello
- BIOFORGE, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel Gonzalez De Torre
- BIOFORGE, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Pérez
- BIOFORGE, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando González-Pérez
- BIOFORGE, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Montequi
- BIOFORGE, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
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Davey PA, Power AM, Santos R, Bertemes P, Ladurner P, Palmowski P, Clarke J, Flammang P, Lengerer B, Hennebert E, Rothbächer U, Pjeta R, Wunderer J, Zurovec M, Aldred N. Omics-based molecular analyses of adhesion by aquatic invertebrates. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1051-1075. [PMID: 33594824 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Many aquatic invertebrates are associated with surfaces, using adhesives to attach to the substratum for locomotion, prey capture, reproduction, building or defence. Their intriguing and sophisticated biological glues have been the focus of study for decades. In all but a couple of specific taxa, however, the precise mechanisms by which the bioadhesives stick to surfaces underwater and (in many cases) harden have proved to be elusive. Since the bulk components are known to be based on proteins in most organisms, the opportunities provided by advancing 'omics technologies have revolutionised bioadhesion research. Time-consuming isolation and analysis of single molecules has been either replaced or augmented by the generation of massive data sets that describe the organism's translated genes and proteins. While these new approaches have provided resources and opportunities that have enabled physiological insights and taxonomic comparisons that were not previously possible, they do not provide the complete picture and continued multi-disciplinarity is essential. This review covers the various ways in which 'omics have contributed to our understanding of adhesion by aquatic invertebrates, with new data to illustrate key points. The associated challenges are highlighted and priorities are suggested for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Davey
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Anne Marie Power
- Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Room 226, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Romana Santos
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente (MARE), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal
| | - Philip Bertemes
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Pawel Palmowski
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Jessica Clarke
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Patrick Flammang
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Birgit Lengerer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Elise Hennebert
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Ute Rothbächer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Robert Pjeta
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Julia Wunderer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Nick Aldred
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, U.K
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Shi Y, Lin GL, Fu XL, Keller M, Smagghe G, Liu TX. Cocoon-Spinning Behavior and 20-Hydroxyecdysone Regulation of Fibroin Genes in Plutella xylostella. Front Physiol 2021; 11:574800. [PMID: 33384607 PMCID: PMC7770130 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.574800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella is a serious pest of crucifers. It has high reproductive potential and is resistant to many insecticides. Typically, the last-instar larvae of P. xylostella, before pupation, move to the lower or outer plant leaves to make a loose silk cocoon and pupate inside for adult formation. To better understand this pivotal stage we studied the cocoon-spinning behavior of P. xylostella and measured three successive phases by video-recording, namely the selection of a pupation site, spinning a loose cocoon and padding the scaffold cocoon. Subsequently, we cloned three fibroin genes related to cocoon production, i.e., fibroin light chain (Fib-L), fibroin heavy chain (Fib-H), and glycoprotein P25. A spatio-temporal study of these three fibroin genes confirmed a high expression in the silk glands during the final larval instar silk-producing stage. In parallel, we did an exogenous treatment of the insect molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and this suppressed fibroin gene expression, reduced the normal time needed for cocoon spinning, and we also observed a looser cocoon structure under the scanning electron microscope. Hence, we demonstrated that the expression levels of key genes related to the synthesis of 20E [the three Halloween genes Spook (Spo), Shadow (Sad), and Shade (Shd)] decreased significantly during spinning, the expression of the 20E receptor (EcR and USP) was significantly lower during spinning than before spinning, and that the expression levels of CYP18-A1 related to 20E degradation were significantly up-regulated during spinning. The significance of the cocoon and the effects of 20E on the cocoon-spinning behavior of P. xylostella are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shi
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Gan-Lin Lin
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiu-Lian Fu
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mike Keller
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.,School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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15
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Tandon S, Kandasubramanian B, Ibrahim SM. Silk-Based Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Tandon
- Biotechnology Lab, Center for Converging Technologies, University of Rajasthan, JLN Marg, Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan, India
| | - Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian
- Nano Surface Texturing Lab, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DU), Girinagar, Pune-411025, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sobhy M. Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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16
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Li J, He Y, Li H, Ouyang Y, Liu L, Zhou Y, Hu Z, Wang B. Structural and property changes of silk fibroin determined by an immunoassay during an artificial aging process. ANAL LETT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2019.1652829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yujie He
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haohui Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linshuai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- Institute of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Li J, Zheng H, He Y, Chen B, Liu L, Ouyang Y, Zhu C, Zhou Y, Sun J, Hu Z, Wang B. Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Immunosensor Reveals the Existence of Silk Products on the Maritime Silk Road. ACS Sens 2019; 4:3203-3209. [PMID: 31773952 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b01638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The Maritime Silk Road was the major trade route between eastern and western civilizations in the Middle Ages. However, hardly any silk products have been found along the transoceanic trade route. Thus, the extrasensitive detection of silk relic traces has tremendous importance in research regarding the Maritime Silk Road. In this study, an electrochemical immunosensor based on a tailored monoclonal antibody and gold nanoparticles using the layer-by-layer self-assembly method was devised. The fabricated immunosensor demonstrated preeminent performance in the analysis of silk fibroin, with a linear detection range of 0.01-100 ng mL-1 and a detection limit of 3.8 pg mL-1. In particular, the performance of the immunosensor was excellent in the analysis of ancient silk samples, especially in the qualitative and quantitative detection of soil samples extracted from Nanhai No. 1 shipwreck archeological sites. The proposed electrochemical immunosensor proves the existence of silk products on the Maritime Silk Road and demonstrates enormous potential for studying the formation and development of the ancient transoceanic trading route.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hailing Zheng
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yang Zhou
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Jian Sun
- Conservation Center of Underwater Cultural Heritage, National Cultural Heritage Administration, Beijing 100192, China
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18
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Li J, Ouyang Y, Liu L, Zhu C, Meng J, Zheng H, Zhou Y, Wan J, Hu Z, Wang B. Tailored monoclonal antibody as recognition probe of immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of silk fibroin and use in the study of archaeological samples. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 145:111709. [PMID: 31550631 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The ultrasensitive detection of fibroin in unearthed silk relics has great significance for investigating the origin and transmission of silk. In this study, an anti-fibroin monoclonal antibody was successfully prepared through animal immunization. Next, a label-free electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated using layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was proposed. The two methods exhibited excellent sensitivity and specificity in the detection of silk fibroin, while the immunosensor showed a wider quantitative detection range (0.1-100 ng mL-1) and a lower detection limit (0.051 ng mL-1) than ELISA (10-100 ng mL-1 and 8.71 ng mL-1). Furthermore, the performance of the immunosensor was superior in archaeological sample detection. Taking advantage of the well-prepared monoclonal antibody, the two proposed immunological assays demonstrate tremendous potential for the ultrasensitive detection of silk fibroin, which can make great contributions to exploring the origin and transmission routes of ancient silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Yi Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Linshuai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chengyu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Junjing Meng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Hailing Zheng
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou, 310002, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou, 310002, China.
| | - Junmin Wan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- Institute of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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19
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Kono N, Nakamura H, Ohtoshi R, Tomita M, Numata K, Arakawa K. The bagworm genome reveals a unique fibroin gene that provides high tensile strength. Commun Biol 2019; 2:148. [PMID: 31044173 PMCID: PMC6488591 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0412-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod silk is known as a versatile tool, and its variability makes it an attractive biomaterial. Eumeta variegata is a bagworm moth (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) that uses silk throughout all life stages. Notably, the bagworm-specific uses of silk include larval development in a bag coated with silk and plant materials and the use of silk attachments to hang pupae. An understanding at the molecular level of bagworm silk, which enables such unique purposes, is an opportunity to expand the possibilities for artificial biomaterial design. However, very little is known about the bagworm fibroin gene and the mechanical properties of bagworm silk. Here, we report the bagworm genome, including a silk fibroin gene. The genome is approximately 700 Mbp in size, and the newly found fibroin gene has a unique repetitive motif. Furthermore, a mechanical property test demonstrates a phylogenetic relationship between the unique motif and tensile strength of bagworm silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Kono
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Yamagata, Japan
| | | | | | - Masaru Tomita
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Yamagata, Japan
| | | | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Yamagata, Japan
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20
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Galateanu B, Hudita A, Zaharia C, Bunea MC, Vasile E, Buga MR, Costache M. Silk-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications. POLYMERS AND POLYMERIC COMPOSITES: A REFERENCE SERIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77830-3_59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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21
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Ma D, Wang Y, Dai W. Silk fibroin-based biomaterials for musculoskeletal tissue engineering. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2018; 89:456-469. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.04.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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22
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Humenik M, Lang G, Scheibel T. Silk nanofibril self-assembly versus electrospinning. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 10:e1509. [PMID: 29393590 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Natural silk fibers represent one of the most advanced blueprints for (bio)polymer scientists, displaying highly optimized mechanical properties due to their hierarchical structures. Biotechnological production of silk proteins and implementation of advanced processing methods enabled harnessing the potential of these biopolymer not just based on the mechanical properties. In addition to fibers, diverse morphologies can be produced, such as nonwoven meshes, films, hydrogels, foams, capsules and particles. Among them, nanoscale fibrils and fibers are particularly interesting concerning medical and technical applications due to their biocompatibility, environmental and mechanical robustness as well as high surface-to-volume ratio. Therefore, we introduce here self-assembly of silk proteins into hierarchically organized structures such as supramolecular nanofibrils and fabricated materials based thereon. As an alternative to self-assembly, we also present electrospinning a technique to produce nanofibers and nanofibrous mats. Accordingly, we introduce a broad range of silk-based dopes, used in self-assembly and electrospinning: natural silk proteins originating from natural spinning glands, natural silk protein solutions reconstituted from fibers, engineered recombinant silk proteins designed from natural blueprints, genetic fusions of recombinant silk proteins with other structural or functional peptides and moieties, as well as hybrids of recombinant silk proteins chemically conjugated with nonproteinaceous biotic or abiotic molecules. We highlight the advantages but also point out drawbacks of each particular production route. The scope includes studies of the natural self-assembly mechanism during natural silk spinning, production of silk fibrils as new nanostructured non-native scaffolds allowing dynamic morphological switches, as well as studying potential applications. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide-Based Structures Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Humenik
- Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Gregor Lang
- Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayreuth Center for Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), Research Center Bio-Macromolecules (BIOmac), Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), Bayreuth Center for Material Science (BayMAT), Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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Wolff JO, Lovtsova J, Gorb E, Dai Z, Ji A, Zhao Z, Jiang N, Gorb SN. Strength of silk attachment to Ilex chinensis leaves in the tea bagworm Eumeta minuscula (Lepidoptera, Psychidae). J R Soc Interface 2017; 14:rsif.2017.0007. [PMID: 28250101 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Silks play an important role in the life of various arthropods. A highly neglected prerequisite to make versatile use of silks is sufficient attachment to substrates. Although there have been some studies on the structure and mechanics of silk anchorages of spiders, for insects only anecdotal reports on attachment-associated spinning behaviour exist. Here, we experimentally studied the silk attachment of the pupae and last instar caterpillars of the tea bagworm Eumeta minuscula (Butler 1881) (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) to the leaves of its host plant Ilex chinensis We found that the bagworms spin attachment discs, which share some structural features with those of spiders, like a plaque consisting of numerous overlaid, looped glue-coated silk fibres and the medially attaching suspension thread. Although the glue, which coats the fibres, cannot spread and adhere very well to the leaf surface, high pull-off forces were measured, yielding a mean safety factor (force divided by the animal weight) of 385.6. Presumably, the bagworms achieve this by removal of the leaf epidermis prior to silk attachment, which exposes the underlying tissue that represents a much better bonding site. This ensures a reliable attachment during the immobile, vulnerable pupal stage. This is the first study on the biomechanics and structure of silk attachments to substrates in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas O Wolff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Julia Lovtsova
- Entomological Museum, All-Russian Center for Plant Quarantine, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Zhendong Dai
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 29 Yudao Street, 210016 Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Aihong Ji
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 29 Yudao Street, 210016 Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihui Zhao
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 29 Yudao Street, 210016 Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 29 Yudao Street, 210016 Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Stanislav N Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
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24
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Herold HM, Scheibel T. Applicability of biotechnologically produced insect silks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 72:365-385. [DOI: 10.1515/znc-2017-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Silks are structural proteins produced by arthropods. Besides the well-known cocoon silk, which is produced by larvae of the silk moth Bombyx mori to undergo metamorphosis inside their silken shelter (and which is also used for textile production by men since millennia), numerous further less known silk-producing animals exist. The ability to produce silk evolved multiple independent times during evolution, and the fact that silk was subject to convergent evolution gave rise to an abundant natural diversity of silk proteins. Silks are used in air, under water, or like honey bee silk in the hydrophobic, waxen environment of the bee hive. The good mechanical properties of insect silk fibres together with their non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable nature renders these materials appealing for both technical and biomedical applications. Although nature provides a great diversity of material properties, the variation in quality inherent in materials from natural sources together with low availability (except from silkworm silk) impeded the development of applications of silks. To overcome these two drawbacks, in recent years, recombinant silks gained more and more interest, as the biotechnological production of silk proteins allows for a scalable production at constant quality. This review summarises recent developments in recombinant silk production as well as technical procedures to process recombinant silk proteins into fibres, films, and hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike M. Herold
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
- Bayreuther Zentrum für Kolloide und Grenzflächen (BZKG), Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
- Bayreuther Zentrum für Molekulare Biowissenschaften (BZMB), Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
- Institut für Bio-Makromoleküle (bio-mac), Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
- Bayreuther Materialzentrum (BayMAT), Universität Bayreuth , Universitätsstraße 30 , 95440 Bayreuth , Germany
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25
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Boyd-Moss M, Fox K, Brandt M, Nisbet D, Williams R. Bioprinting and Biofabrication with Peptide and Protein Biomaterials. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1030:95-129. [PMID: 29081051 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-66095-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The ability to fabricate artificial tissue constructs through the controlled organisation of cells, structures and signals within a biomimetic scaffold offers significant promise to the field of regenerative medicine, drug delivery and tissue engineering. Advances in additive manufacturing technologies have facilitated the printing of spatially defined cell-laden artificial tissue constructs capable of providing biomimetic spatiotemporal presentation of biological and physical cues to cells in a designed multicomponent structure. Despite significant progress in the field of bioprinting, a key challenge remains in developing and utilizing materials that can adequately recapitulate the complexities of the native extracellular matrix on a nanostructured, chemical level during the printing process. This gives rise to the need for suitable materials - particularly in establishing effective control over cell fate, tissue vascularization and innervation. Recently, significant interested has been invested into developing candidate materials using protein and peptide-derived biomaterials. The ability of these materials to form highly printable hydrogels which are reminiscent of the native ECM has seen significant use in a variety of regenative applications, including both organ bioprinting and non-organ bioprinting. Here, we discuss the emerging technologies for peptide-based bioprinting applications, highlighting bioink development and detailing bioprinter processors. Furthermore, this work presents application specific, peptide-based bioprinting approaches, and provides insight into current limitations and future perspectives of peptide-based bioprinting techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Boyd-Moss
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Biofab3D, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate Fox
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Milan Brandt
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Additive Manufacturing, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Nisbet
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Richard Williams
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Biofab3D, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
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26
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Malay AD, Sato R, Yazawa K, Watanabe H, Ifuku N, Masunaga H, Hikima T, Guan J, Mandal BB, Damrongsakkul S, Numata K. Relationships between physical properties and sequence in silkworm silks. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27573. [PMID: 27279149 PMCID: PMC4899792 DOI: 10.1038/srep27573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk has attracted widespread attention due to its superlative material properties and promising applications. However, the determinants behind the variations in material properties among different types of silk are not well understood. We analysed the physical properties of silk samples from a variety of silkmoth cocoons, including domesticated Bombyx mori varieties and several species from Saturniidae. Tensile deformation tests, thermal analyses, and investigations on crystalline structure and orientation of the fibres were performed. The results showed that saturniid silks produce more highly-defined structural transitions compared to B. mori, as seen in the yielding and strain hardening events during tensile deformation and in the changes observed during thermal analyses. These observations were analysed in terms of the constituent fibroin sequences, which in B. mori are predicted to produce heterogeneous structures, whereas the strictly modular repeats of the saturniid sequences are hypothesized to produce structures that respond in a concerted manner. Within saturniid fibroins, thermal stability was found to correlate with the abundance of poly-alanine residues, whereas differences in fibre extensibility can be related to varying ratios of GGX motifs versus bulky hydrophobic residues in the amorphous phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali D. Malay
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ryota Sato
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Yazawa
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroe Watanabe
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Nao Ifuku
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Takaaki Hikima
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Juan Guan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Biman B. Mandal
- Biomaterial and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, 781039, India
| | - Siriporn Damrongsakkul
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Keiji Numata
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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27
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Kujala S, Mannila A, Karvonen L, Kieu K, Sun Z. Natural Silk as a Photonics Component: a Study on Its Light Guiding and Nonlinear Optical Properties. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22358. [PMID: 26926272 PMCID: PMC4772132 DOI: 10.1038/srep22358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk fibers are expected to become a pathway to biocompatible and bioresorbable waveguides, which could be used to deliver localized optical power for various applications, e.g., optical therapy or imaging inside living tissue. Here, for the first time, the linear and nonlinear optical properties of natural silk fibers have been studied. The waveguiding properties of silk fibroin of largely unprocessed Bombyx mori silkworm silk are assessed using two complementary methods, and found to be on the average 2.8 dB mm(-1). The waveguide losses of degummed silk are to a large extent due to scattering from debris on fiber surface and helical twisting of the fiber. Nonlinear optical microscopy reveals both configurational defects such as torsional twisting, and strong symmetry breaking at the center of the fiber, which provides potential for various nonlinear applications. Our results show that nonregenerated B. mori silk can be used for delivering optical power over short distances, when the waveguide needs to be biocompatible and bioresorbable, such as embedding the waveguide inside living tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Kujala
- Aalto University, Department of Micro and Nanosciences, PO. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Anna Mannila
- Aalto University, Department of Micro and Nanosciences, PO. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Spinverse Ltd., Innopoli 2, Tekniikantie 14, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Lasse Karvonen
- Aalto University, Department of Micro and Nanosciences, PO. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Khanh Kieu
- University of Arizona, College of Optical Sciences, 1630 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Zhipei Sun
- Aalto University, Department of Micro and Nanosciences, PO. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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28
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Lane DD, Kaur S, Weerasakare GM, Stewart RJ. Toughened hydrogels inspired by aquatic caddisworm silk. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:6981-6990. [PMID: 26234366 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm01297j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic caddisworm silk is a tough adhesive fiber. Part of the toughening mechanism resides in serial, Ca(2+)-phosphate crosslinked nano-domains that comprise H-fibroin, the major structural protein. To mimic the toughening mechanism, a synthetic phosphate-graft-methacrylate prepolymer, as a simple H-fibroin analog, was copolymerized within a covalent elastic network of polyacrylamide. Above a critical phosphate sidechain density, hydrogels equilibrated with Ca(2+) or Zn(2+) ions displayed greatly increased initial stiffness, strain-rate dependent yield behavior, and required 100 times more work to fracture than hydrogels equilibrated with Mg(2+) or Na(+) ions. Conceptually, the enhanced toughness is attributed to energy-dissipating, viscous unfolding of clustered phosphate-metal ion crosslinks at a critical stress. The toughness of the bioinspired hydrogels exceeds the toughness of cartilage and meniscus suggesting potential application as prosthetic biomaterials. The tough hydrogels also provide a simplified model to test hypotheses about caddisworm silk architecture, phosphate metal ion interactions, and mechanochemical toughening mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwight D Lane
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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29
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30
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Zhao Z, Li Y, Xie MB. Silk fibroin-based nanoparticles for drug delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:4880-903. [PMID: 25749470 PMCID: PMC4394455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16034880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a protein-based biomacromolecule with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and low immunogenicity. The development of SF-based nanoparticles for drug delivery have received considerable attention due to high binding capacity for various drugs, controlled drug release properties and mild preparation conditions. By adjusting the particle size, the chemical structure and properties, the modified or recombinant SF-based nanoparticles can be designed to improve the therapeutic efficiency of drugs encapsulated into these nanoparticles. Therefore, they can be used to deliver small molecule drugs (e.g., anti-cancer drugs), protein and growth factor drugs, gene drugs, etc. This paper reviews recent progress on SF-based nanoparticles, including chemical structure, properties, and preparation methods. In addition, the applications of SF-based nanoparticles as carriers for therapeutic drugs are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhao
- State Key Lab of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
- Biomedical Materials and Engineering Research Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Yi Li
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Mao-Bin Xie
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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31
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32
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Zurovec M, Kludkiewicz B, Fedic R, Sulitkova J, Mach V, Kucerova L, Sehnal F. Functional Conservation and Structural Diversification of Silk Sericins in Two Moth Species. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:1859-66. [DOI: 10.1021/bm400249b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zurovec
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara Kludkiewicz
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Fedic
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Sulitkova
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Mach
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Kucerova
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Sehnal
- Entomological Institute,
Biology Centre ASCR, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
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33
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Silk fibroin in ocular surface reconstruction: what is its potential as a biomaterial in ophthalmics? Future Med Chem 2013. [PMID: 23190102 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.12.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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34
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Kundu B, Rajkhowa R, Kundu SC, Wang X. Silk fibroin biomaterials for tissue regenerations. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2013; 65:457-70. [PMID: 23137786 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 766] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 08/26/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Regeneration of tissues using cells, scaffolds and appropriate growth factors is a key approach in the treatments of tissue or organ failure. Silk protein fibroin can be effectively used as a scaffolding material in these treatments. Silk fibers are obtained from diverse sources such as spiders, silkworms, scorpions, mites and flies. Among them, silk of silkworms is a good source for the development of biomedical device. It possesses good biocompatibility, suitable mechanical properties and is produced in bulk in the textile sector. The unique combination of elasticity and strength along with mammalian cell compatibility makes silk fibroin an attractive material for tissue engineering. The present article discusses the processing of silk fibroin into different forms of biomaterials followed by their uses in regeneration of different tissues. Applications of silk for engineering of bone, vascular, neural, skin, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, cardiac, ocular, and bladder tissues are discussed. The advantages and limitations of silk systems as scaffolding materials in the context of biocompatibility, biodegradability and tissue specific requirements are also critically reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banani Kundu
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur-721302, India
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35
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Addison JB, Ashton NN, Weber WS, Stewart RJ, Holland GP, Yarger JL. β-Sheet nanocrystalline domains formed from phosphorylated serine-rich motifs in caddisfly larval silk: a solid state NMR and XRD study. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:1140-8. [PMID: 23452243 DOI: 10.1021/bm400019d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Adhesive silks spun by aquatic caddisfly (order Trichoptera) larvae are used to build both intricate protective shelters and food harvesting nets underwater. In this study, we use (13)C and (31)P solid-state NMR and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) as tools to elucidate molecular protein structure of caddisfly larval silk from the species Hesperophylax consimilis . Caddisfly larval silk is a fibroin protein based biopolymer containing mostly repetitive amino acid motifs. NMR and X-ray results provide strong supporting evidence for a structural model in which phosphorylated serine repeats (pSX)4 complex with divalent cations Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) to form rigid nanocrystalline β-sheet structures in caddisfly silk. (13)C NMR data suggests that both phosphorylated serine and neighboring valine residues exist in a β-sheet conformation while glycine and leucine residues common in GGX repeats likely reside in random coil conformations. Additionally, (31)P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) analysis indicates that the phosphates on phosphoserine residues are doubly ionized, and are charge-stabilized by divalent cations. Positively charged arginine side chains also likely play a role in charge stabilization. Finally, WAXD results finds that the silk is at least 7-8% crystalline, with β-sheet interplane spacings of 3.7 and 4.5 Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1604, USA.
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36
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Chaitanya RK, Sridevi P, Senthilkumaran B, Dutta Gupta A. Effect of juvenile hormone analog, methoprene on H-fibroin regulation during the last instar larval development of Corcyra cephalonica. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 181:10-7. [PMID: 22929589 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Revised: 08/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), co-ordinately orchestrate insect growth and development. The process of silk synthesis and secretion in lepidopteran insects is known to be under hormonal control. However, the role of JH in this process has not been demonstrated hitherto. The present study is aimed to elucidate the role of JH in H-fibroin regulation in Corcyra cephalonica, a serious lepidopteran pest. Reiterated amino acid stretches and the large molecular weight of H-fibroin render its cloning and characterization cumbersome. To address this, a commercially synthesized short amino acid peptide conjugated with a carrier protein was used to generate antibodies against the N-terminal region of H-fibroin. ELISA and immunoblot experiments demonstrated the sensitivity and specificity of antibody. Further, immunohistochemical analyses revealed the antibody's cross-reactivity with H-fibroins of C. cephalonica and Bombyx mori in the silk gland lumen. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated the tissue-specificity and developmental expression of H-fibroin. Hormonal studies revealed that JH alone does not alter the expression of H-fibroin. However, in the presence 20E, JH reverses the declined expression caused by 20E administration to normal levels. This study provides molecular evidence for the regulation of H-fibroin by the cumulative action of JH and 20E.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Chaitanya
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Sir CR Rao Road, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046, India
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37
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A new consolidation system for aged silk fabrics: Effect of reactive epoxide-ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. REACT FUNCT POLYM 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2012.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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38
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Kundu SC, Kundu B, Talukdar S, Bano S, Nayak S, Kundu J, Mandal BB, Bhardwaj N, Botlagunta M, Dash BC, Acharya C, Ghosh AK. Nonmulberry silk biopolymers. Biopolymers 2012; 97:455-67. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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39
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Gomes S, Leonor IB, Mano JF, Reis RL, Kaplan DL. Natural and Genetically Engineered Proteins for Tissue Engineering. Prog Polym Sci 2012; 37:1-17. [PMID: 22058578 PMCID: PMC3207498 DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
To overcome the limitations of traditionally used autografts, allografts and, to a lesser extent, synthetic materials, there is the need to develop a new generation of scaffolds with adequate mechanical and structural support, control of cell attachment, migration, proliferation and differentiation and with bio-resorbable features. This suite of properties would allow the body to heal itself at the same rate as implant degradation. Genetic engineering offers a route to this level of control of biomaterial systems. The possibility of expressing biological components in nature and to modify or bioengineer them further, offers a path towards multifunctional biomaterial systems. This includes opportunities to generate new protein sequences, new self-assembling peptides or fusions of different bioactive domains or protein motifs. New protein sequences with tunable properties can be generated that can be used as new biomaterials. In this review we address some of the most frequently used proteins for tissue engineering and biomedical applications and describe the techniques most commonly used to functionalize protein-based biomaterials by combining them with bioactive molecules to enhance biological performance. We also highlight the use of genetic engineering, for protein heterologous expression and the synthesis of new protein-based biopolymers, focusing the advantages of these functionalized biopolymers when compared with their counterparts extracted directly from nature and modified by techniques such as physical adsorption or chemical modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Gomes
- 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal
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Ashton NN, Taggart DS, Stewart RJ. Silk tape nanostructure and silk gland anatomy of trichoptera. Biopolymers 2011; 97:432-45. [PMID: 21953029 DOI: 10.1002/bip.21720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Caddisflys (order Trichoptera) construct elaborate protective shelters and food harvesting nets with underwater adhesive silk. The silk fiber resembles a nanostructured tape composed of thousands of nanofibrils (∼ 120 nm) oriented with the major axis of the fiber, which in turn are composed of spherical subunits. Weaker lateral interactions between nanofibrils allow the fiber to conform to surface topography and increase contact area. Highly phosphorylated (pSX)(4) motifs in H-fibroin blocks of positively charged basic residues are conserved across all three suborders of Trichoptera. Electrostatic interactions between the oppositely charged motifs could drive liquid-liquid phase separation of silk fiber precursors into a complex coacervates mesophase. Accessibility of phosphoserine to an anti-phosphoserine antibody is lower in the lumen of the silk gland storage region compared to the nascent fiber formed in the anterior conducting channel. The phosphorylated motifs may serve as a marker for the structural reorganization of the silk precursor mesophase into strongly refringent fibers. The structural change occurring at the transition into the conducting channel makes this region of special interest. Fiber formation from polyampholytic silk proteins in Trichoptera may suggest a new approach to create synthetic silk analogs from water-soluble precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas N Ashton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Stewart RJ, Wang CS, Shao H. Complex coacervates as a foundation for synthetic underwater adhesives. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 167:85-93. [PMID: 21081223 PMCID: PMC3130813 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2010.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2010] [Revised: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Complex coacervation was proposed to play a role in the formation of the underwater bioadhesive of the Sandcastle worm (Phragmatopoma californica) based on the polyacidic and polybasic nature of the glue proteins and the balance of opposite charges at physiological pH. Morphological studies of the secretory system suggested that the natural process does not involve complex coacervation as commonly defined. The distinction may not be important because electrostatic interactions likely play an important role in the formation of the sandcastle glue. Complex coacervation has also been invoked in the formation of adhesive underwater silk fibers of caddisfly larvae and the adhesive plaques of mussels. A process similar to complex coacervation, that is, condensation and dehydration of biopolyelectrolytes through electrostatic associations, seems plausible for the caddisfly silk. This much is clear, the sandcastle glue complex coacervation model provided a valuable blueprint for the synthesis of a biomimetic, water-borne, underwater adhesive with demonstrated potential for repair of wet tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J Stewart
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 84112, United States.
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Chaitanya RK, Sridevi P, Senthilkumaran B, Gupta AD. 20-Hydroxyecdysone regulation of H-fibroin gene in the stored grain pest Corcyra cephalonica, during the last instar larval development. Steroids 2011; 76:125-34. [PMID: 21034755 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2010.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2010] [Revised: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) controls molting, metamorphosis and reproduction of insects. It binds to a heterodimeric complex of ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and regulates the transcription of genes containing ecdysone response elements (EcREs). However, the 20E regulation of silk fibroin genes is largely unexplored. In most lepidopteran larvae, the silk fibroin primarily consists of a large protein, heavy chain fibroin (H-fibroin) that is associated with two small proteins, L-chain fibroin and P25. In the present study, we demonstrate that 20E regulates the expression of H-fibroin gene in Corcyra cephalonica, in a dose-dependent manner during the last instar larval development. Semi-quantitative and real-time PCR studies reveal that physiological doses of 20E do not alter the normal expression, whereas higher doses cause a significant decline in the expression. Luciferase activity assays and gel shift experiments further confirm the presence of a functional EcRE in the upstream region of H-fibroin which regulates the ecdysteroid dependent transcriptional activity of fibroin gene through EcR. In vitro treatment with 20E mimicking insecticides, RH-5849 and RH-5992 decreases the expression of H-fibroin in isolated salivary glands. Insects fed with similar concentrations of these insecticides, metamorphose abnormally. Differences are also observed in the ultrastructure of the silk fibers of control and insecticide fed insects providing additional insight into the disruptive effects of these non-steroidal ecdysteroid agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Chaitanya
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Sir. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
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Stewart RJ, Wang CS. Adaptation of caddisfly larval silks to aquatic habitats by phosphorylation of h-fibroin serines. Biomacromolecules 2010; 11:969-74. [PMID: 20196534 DOI: 10.1021/bm901426d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic caddisflies diverged from a silk-spinning ancestor shared with terrestrial moths and butterflies. Caddisfly larva spin adhesive silk underwater to construct protective shelters with adventitiously gathered materials. A repeating (SX)(n) motif conserved in the H-fibroin of several caddisfly species is densely phosphorylated. In total, more than half of the serines in caddisfly silk may be phosphorylated. Major molecular adaptations allowing underwater spinning of an ancestral dry silk appear to have been phosphorylation of serines and the accumulation of basic residues in the silk proteins. The amphoteric nature of the silk proteins could contribute to silk fiber assembly through electrostatic association of phosphorylated blocks with arginine-rich blocks. The presence of Ca(2+) in the caddisfly larval silk proteins suggest phosphorylated serines could contribute to silk fiber periodic substructure through Ca(2+) crossbridging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J Stewart
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
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Chaitanya RK, Dutta-Gupta A. Light chain fibroin and P25 genes of Corcyra cephalonica: Molecular cloning, characterization, tissue-specific expression, synchronous developmental and 20-hydroxyecdysone regulation during the last instar larval development. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2010; 167:113-21. [PMID: 20171223 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2009] [Revised: 02/05/2010] [Accepted: 02/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The biologically active ecdysteroid hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), regulates various processes like molting, metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. However, its role in expression of silk genes is obscure. The silk core in insects is generally constituted of a complex of three proteins namely, H-chain fibroin (H-fibroin), L-chain fibroin (L-fibroin) and P25. In the present study, we report full-length cDNA cloning and characterization of L-fibroin and P25 genes from rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica. Northern analyses demonstrated 1.1 and 1kb transcripts of L-fibroin and P25 respectively. The tissue expression pattern shows the presence of these transcripts specifically in the salivary gland. These two genes are developmentally regulated at transcriptional level and their maximum expression is observed during the late-last instar larval stage. Semi-quantitative and real-time PCR studies revealed that 20E regulates the expression of these genes in a dose-dependant manner. This study further shows that physiological dose of 20E does not alter the normal expression of these two genes, whereas treatments with higher doses cause a significant decline in the expression. This study clearly suggests the role of 20E in the regulation of L-fibroin and P25 at molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Chaitanya
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
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Collin MA, Mita K, Sehnal F, Hayashi CY. Molecular evolution of lepidopteran silk proteins: insights from the ghost moth, Hepialus californicus. J Mol Evol 2010; 70:519-29. [PMID: 20458474 PMCID: PMC2876269 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-010-9349-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 04/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Silk production has independently evolved in numerous arthropod lineages, such as Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Lepidopteran larvae (caterpillars) synthesize silk proteins in modified salivary glands and spin silk fibers into protective tunnels, escape lines, and pupation cocoons. Molecular sequence data for these proteins are necessary to determine critical features of their function and evolution. To this end, we constructed an expression library from the silk glands of the ghost moth, Hepialus californicus, and characterized light chain fibroin and heavy chain fibroin gene transcripts. The predicted H. californicus silk fibroins share many elements with other lepidopteran and trichopteran fibroins, such as conserved placements of cysteine, aromatic, and polar amino acid residues. Further comparative analyses were performed to determine site-specific signatures of selection and to assess whether fibroin genes are informative as phylogenetic markers. We found that purifying selection has constrained mutation within the fibroins and that light chain fibroin is a promising molecular marker. Thus, by characterizing the H. californicus fibroins, we identified key functional amino acids and gained insight into the evolutionary processes that have shaped these adaptive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Collin
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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Tao Y, Yan Y, Xu W. Physical characteristics and properties of waterborne polyurethane materials reinforced with silk fibroin powder. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.21981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Wang Y, Sanai K, Wen H, Zhao T, Nakagaki M. Characterization of unique heavy chain fibroin filaments spun underwater by the caddisfly Stenopsyche marmorata (Trichoptera; Stenopsychidae). Mol Biol Rep 2009; 37:2885-92. [PMID: 19842062 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-009-9847-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2009] [Accepted: 09/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The silks of both Lepidoptera and its sister order Trichoptera contain a homologue of heavy chain (H-fibroin), which is assumed to determine the physical properties of the fiber, such as elasticity and toughness. The long repetitive region of the H-fibroin caddisfly Stenopsyche marmorata shows a conspicuous hierarchical structure that is composed of huge units, which are mainly constructed from four large blocks (SA, SB, SC and SD) arranged in an orderly fashion. Each block contains short, distinct motifs such as SXSXSX(SX), GPXG(X)(1-3) or triplet GGX, which also occur in lepidopteran and spider filaments. The SA, SB and SC blocks have nearly fixed amino acid numbers, while the length of the SD block varies, usually due to a variable number of GPXGXXX repeats. The multiple sandwich structure that occurs in the SB block is assumed to be unique to the caddisfly and may be related to the use of silk in an aqueous environment. The overall average of hydrophilicity in the repetitive H-fibroin region of S. marmorata is -0.609, whereas hydrophobicity prevails in most lepidopteran H-fibroins. Gly (29.51%), Pro (11.28%) and Ser (10.90%) are the three predominant amino acids of H-fibroin, and the high content of essential amino acids reflects the energy-rich food resources of the caddisfly. The H-fibroin of S. marmorata is about 400-500 kDa and expressed in both the middle and posterior silk glands, which is different from the expression pattern in Lepidoptera species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Wang
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda 386-8567, Japan
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Yonemura N, Mita K, Tamura T, Sehnal F. Conservation of silk genes in Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. J Mol Evol 2009; 68:641-53. [PMID: 19449053 PMCID: PMC2691926 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-009-9234-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2008] [Revised: 04/07/2009] [Accepted: 04/08/2009] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Larvae of the sister orders Trichoptera and Lepidoptera are characterized by silk secretion from a pair of labial glands. In both orders the silk filament consists of heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain fibroins and in Lepidoptera it also includes a P25 glycoprotein. The L-fibroin and H-fibroin genes of Rhyacophila obliterata and Hydropsyche angustipennis caddisflies have exon/intron structuring (seven exons in L-fibroin and two in H-fibroin) similar to that in their counterparts in Lepidoptera. Fibroin cDNAs are also known in Limnephilus decipiens, representing the third caddisfly suborder. Amino acid sequences of deduced L-fibroin proteins and of the terminal H-fibroin regions are about 50% identical among the three caddisfly species but their similarity to lepidopteran fibroins is <25%. Positions of some residues are conserved, including cysteines that were shown to link the L-fibroin and H-fibroin by a disulfide bridge in Lepidoptera. The long internal part of H-fibroins is composed of short motifs arranged in species-specific repeats. They are extremely uniform in R. obliterata. Motifs (SX)n, GGX, and GPGXX occur in both Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. The trichopteran H-fibroins further contain charged amphiphilic motifs but lack the strings of alanines or alanine-glycine dipeptides that are typical lepidopteran motifs. On the other hand, sequences composed of a motif similar to ERIVAPTVITR surrounded by the (SX)4-6 strings and modifications of the GRRGWGRRG motif occur in Trichoptera and not in Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoyuki Yonemura
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
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Collin MA, Garb JE, Edgerly JS, Hayashi CY. Characterization of silk spun by the embiopteran, Antipaluria urichi. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 39:75-82. [PMID: 18996196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2008] [Revised: 10/04/2008] [Accepted: 10/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Silks are renowned for being lightweight materials with impressive mechanical properties. Though moth and spider silks have received the most study, silk production has evolved in many other arthropods. One insect group that has been little investigated is Embioptera (webspinners). Embiopterans produce silk from unique tarsal spinning structures during all life stages. We characterize the molecular and mechanical properties of Antipaluria urichi (Embioptera) silk through multiple approaches. First, we quantify the number of silk secretory structures on their forelimbs and the tensile properties of Antipaluria silk. Second, we present silk protein (fibroin) transcripts from an embiopteran forelimb protarsomere cDNA library. We describe a fibroin that shares several features with other arthropod silks, including a subrepetitive core region, a non-repetitive carboxyl-terminal sequence, and a composition rich in glycine, alanine, and serine. Despite these shared attributes, embiopteran silk has several different tensile properties compared to previously measured silks. For example, the tensile strength of Antipaluria silk is much lower than that of Bombyx mori silk. We discuss the observed mechanical properties in relation to the fibroin sequence, spinning system, and embiopteran silk use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Collin
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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