Due to its special sequence structure, spider silk protein has unique physical and chemical properties, mechanical properties and excellent biological properties. With the expansion of the application value of spider silk in many fields as a functional material, progress has been made in the studies on the expression of recombinant spider silk proteins through many host systems by gene recombinant techniques. Recombinant spider silk proteins can be processed into high performance fibers, and a wide range of nonfibrous morphologies. Moreover, for their excellent biocompatibility and low immune response they are ideal for biomedical applications. Here we review the process and mechanism of preparation in vitro, chemistry and genetic engineering modification on recombinant spider silk protein.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; chemistry ; Protein Engineering ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; Silk ; chemistry ; Spiders

BmK AngM1 is a long-chain scorpion toxin purified from the venom of Buthus martensii Karsch. It has been reported to exhibit evident analgesic effect and low toxicity, and has the potential to be a novel analgesic drug. The BmKAngM1 gene was transformed into Pichiapastoris GS115. Mut+ and Mut(s) recombinant strains were screened by phenotype and Mut+ recombinant strains were used to detect BmK AngMl gene copy number in the real-time PCR. Expression of BmK AngM1 in the Mut+ recombinant strain was compared with that of the Mut(s) recombinant strain with the same single copy of BmK AngM1 gene under the same condition. The results indicated that the transcription level of BmK AngM1 gene in the Mut(s) recombinant strain was 2.7 fold of that in the Mut recombinant strain in the real-time PCR, and the expression of BmK AngM 1 in the Mut(s) recombinant strain was 1.5 fold of that in the Mut+ recombinant strain. Therefore, Mut(s) recombinant strain showed better ability to express BmK AngM1 than Mut+ recombinant strain.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Gene Dosage ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Scorpion Venoms ; chemistry

Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; genetics ; immunology ; Arthropod Proteins ; Asthma ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (commonly known as black widow spiders) have toxins not only in their venom glands, but also in other parts of their body, in their eggs and even in the newborn spiderlings. The study on the toxins in venom and materials outside the venom glands of the spiders to elucidate their differences and similarities, evolutional relationship and biological functions is of important theoretical and applicable significance. The development of modern protein chemistry and proteomics techniques has provided efficient means for the study of protein and peptide toxins of L. tredecimguttatus. By using such techniques, the molecular base and action mechanism of the toxins can be revealed at the levels of both single purified proteins and omics. Up to now, although protein chemistry and proteomics study on L. tredecimguttatus toxins have achieved a certain progress, the relevant work particularly that on the toxins in the materials outside the venom glands has to be further deepened.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; chemistry ; Black Widow Spider ; chemistry ; Proteomics ; Venoms ; chemistry

One of the distinct characters of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus is that its toxic components exist not only in the venomous glands, but also in the tissues outside the venomous glands and even in the eggs. Investigation on the toxins outside the venomous glands can deepen our understanding of spider toxins and discover new lead molecules with important application prospects. In order to explore the low-abundance proteinaceous toxins in the L. tredecimguttatus eggs, we used bioinformatic strategies to mine a gene sequence encoding a peptide toxin from the transcriptome of L. tredecimguttatus eggs, and then heterologously expressed the gene successfully with a 3'-RACE combined with nest PCR strategy. Biological activity analyses indicated that the expressed peptide toxin, named latroeggtoxin-Ⅵ (LETX-Ⅵ), could inhibit Na⁺ channel currents in ND7/23 cells and promote dopamine release from PC12 cells, without obvious toxicity against Periplaneta americana and bacteria as well as fungi including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, demonstrating that LETX-Ⅵ is a mammal-specific neurotoxin with a potential application prospect in development of the tool reagents for neurobiological study and the drugs for treating related diseases.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins/genetics* ; Black Widow Spider/genetics* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Rats ; Spider Venoms/genetics* ; Transcriptome

BACKGROUND: Sericulture plays an eminent role in development of rural economy in India. Silk filature is a unit where silk is unwound from the cocoons and the strands are collected into skeins. During the process workers are exposed to the high molecular weight proteins like Sericin and Fibroin which are potent allergens leading to sensitization over a period of time and subsequently occupational related health disorders. OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare the magnitude of silk allergen sensitization in workers of silk filatures. METHODS: A community based comparative descriptive study was conducted for a period of 1 year at Ramanagara in south India. One hundred twenty subjects working in the silk filatures formed the study group. For comparison, 2 types of controls were selected viz.120 subjects who were not working in the silk filatures but resided in the same geographical area (control A) and 360 subjects who were not working in silk filatures as well not residing in the same geographical area (control B). Skin prick test was used to identify the silk allergen sensitization. RESULTS: Mean age was 34.14 ± 2.84 years in the study group. Mean age was 40.59 ± 14.40 years and 38.54 ± 12.20 years in control A and control B, respectively. There were 35 males (29.16%) and 85 females (70.84%) in the study group. There were 58 (48.34%) males and 62 (51.66%) females and 152 (42.2%) males and 208 females (57.8%) in control A and control B, respectively. Sensitization to silk allergen was 35.83% in the study group and 20.83% in the control group A and 11.11% in control group B. There was difference in the allergen sensitivity between the study group and control groups and it was statistically significant (chi-square = 38.08; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is high burden of silk allergen sensitization among silk filature workers.
Allergens ; Female ; Fibroins ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Sericins ; Silk ; Skin ; Skin Tests

Dimethyl sulfoxide (Me SO) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a widely used cryoprotectant combination. However, high concentration of Me SO is toxic to cells, and FBS presents problems related to diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and viral infections. Silk protein is a kind of natural macromolecule fiber protein with good biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. The aim of this paper is to analyze the cryoprotective mechanism of silk protein as cryoprotectant. Firstly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the thermal hysteresis activity (THA) of silk protein. The THA of 10 mg/mL sericin protein was 0.96°C, and the THA of 10% (V/V) fibroin protein was 1.15°C. Then the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) of silk protein-PBS solution was observed with cryomicroscope. The cold stage was set at - 7°C, after 40 minutes' incubation, the mean grain size rate (MGSR) of sericin protein and fibroin protein were 28.99% and 3.18%, respectively, which were calculated relative to phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control. It is indicated that sericin and silk fibroin have certain effects of inhibiting recrystallization of ice crystals. Finally, the structure and physicochemical properties of silk protein were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the content of the random coil was 75.62% and the β-sheet structure was 24.38% in the secondary of sericin protein. The content of the β-sheet structure was 56.68%, followed by random coil structure 22.38%, and α-helix 16.84% in the secondary of fibroin protein. The above analysis demonstrates the feasibility of silk fibroin as a cryoprotectant, and provides a new idea for the selection of cryoprotectants in the future.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Fibroins ; Sericins ; Silk ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Limulus Factor C, a serine protease zymogen from the amoebocytes of the limulus, has high affinity for endotoxin. When Factor C is activated by endotoxin, it hydrolyses artificial tripeptide substrate and measurable products are released, so it can be used as an alternative reagent for endotoxin analysis. Factor C gene of Tachypleus tridentatus was obtained through RT-PCR and the recombinant protein was expressed by Bac-to-Bac/BmNPV baculovirus expression system in silkworm larvae. The activity of Factor C was detected with diluted serum of silkworm larvae, and the sensitivity of endotoxin detected was 0.2 EU/mL when the serum was diluted at 1:500. The silkworm larvae expressed limulus Factor C could be used to develop a new low-cost endotoxin test reagent.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Baculoviridae ; Bombyx ; metabolism ; Enzyme Precursors ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Vectors ; Larva ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Serine Endopeptidases ; biosynthesis

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of semiquantitative tests targeting house dust mite (HDM) allergens. METHODS: Thirty-nine dust samples were collected from the homes of 14 patients. These samples were evaluated using the following semi-quantitative tests: Rapid test for Mite Allergen(R), Acarex(R), Mitey checker(R), and SD CHECK Quick Mite Test(R). The samples were then assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Der p 1, Der f 1 and group 2 allergens. Finally, the results from the 4 kits were compared and the correlation with ELISA was determined. RESULTS: Concentrations of HDM allergens determined using Acarex(R) were associated with those of SD CHECK Quick Mite Test(R) and Mitey checker(R), (P=0.004 and 0.035, respectively; rho=0.454 and 0.339, respectively). The concentrations determined by SD CHECK Quick Mite Test(R) were associated with those of Mitey checker(R) and Rapid test for Mite Allergen(R) (P=0.000 and 0.001, respectively; rho=0.664 and 0.518, respectively). There was also a significant correlation between the results obtained using Mitey checker(R) and Rapid test for Mite Allergen(R) (P=0.000, rho=0.602). The Der f 1 levels were associated with the concentrations determined by SD CHECK Quick Mite Test(R), Mitey checker(R) and Rapid test for Mite Allergen(R) (P=0.003, 0.000 and 0.005, respectively; rho=0.467, 0.544 and 0.438, respectively). Group 2 allergen levels were associated with the concentrations determined by SD CHECK Quick Mite Test(R) and Rapid test for Mite Allergen(R) (P=0.019 and 0.038, respectively; rho=0.374 and 0.334, respectively). CONCLUSION: Four popular semiquantitative test kits may be adequate for detecting HDM allergens at home. However, quality assurance is needed for clinical usage because they showed variable sensitivity and specificity.
Allergens ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; Arthropod Proteins ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; Dust ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In our previous studies, dietary supplements of silk protein, sericin, and fibroin, were beneficial for improving epidermal levels of ceramides, which are the major lipids for maintaining the epidermal barrier. In this study, we investigated the dietary effects of silk protein on epidermal levels of free sphingoid bases and their phosphates such as C18 sphingosine (So), C18 sphinganine (Sa), C18 sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and C18 sphinganine-1-phosphate (Sa1P), which are either synthetic substrate or degradative metabolites of ceramides. Forty-five male NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD), were divided into three groups: group CA was an atopic control and fed a control diet, group S was fed a 1% sericin diet, and group F was fed a 1% fibroin diet. Fifteen male BALB/c mice served as group C (control group) and were fed the control diet. All mice were fed with diets and water ad libitum for 10 weeks. Sa in group CA was lower than that in group C, but So in group CA was similar to that in group C. So and Sa were higher in groups S and F than those in group CA; So level was even higher than that in group C, and Sa level was similar to that of group C. The So/Sa ratio in group CA, which is reported to increase in AD, was significantly higher than that of group C. The So/Sa ratio was lower in groups S and F than that in group CA, and decreased further in group F. However, S1P and Sa1P in groups S and F were similar to those in group CA. Taken together, we demonstrated that silk protein, sericin and fibroin dietary supplements, increased So and Sa levels, and decreased the So/Sa ratio.
Animals ; Ceramides ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Fibroins ; Humans ; Lysophospholipids ; Male ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Phosphates ; Sericins ; Silk ; Sphingosine ; Water