Comparative Proteomics Reveal Diverse Functions and Dynamic Changes of Bombyx mori Silk Proteins Spun from Different Development Stages

Silkworms (Bombyx mori) produce massive amounts of silk proteins to make cocoons during the final stages of larval development. Although the major components, fibroin and sericin, have been the focus for a long time, few researchers have realized the complexity of the silk proteome. We collected sev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of proteome research 2013-11, Vol.12 (11), p.5213-5222
Main Authors: Dong, Zhaoming, Zhao, Ping, Wang, Chen, Zhang, Yan, Chen, Jianping, Wang, Xin, Lin, Ying, Xia, Qingyou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bombyx - genetics
Bombyx - growth & development
Bombyx - metabolism
Chromatography, Liquid
Enzymes - metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - genetics
Gene Ontology
Proteomics - methods
Silk - genetics
Silk - metabolism
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Summary:Silkworms (Bombyx mori) produce massive amounts of silk proteins to make cocoons during the final stages of larval development. Although the major components, fibroin and sericin, have been the focus for a long time, few researchers have realized the complexity of the silk proteome. We collected seven kinds of silk fibers spun by silkworm larvae at different developmental stages: the silks spun by new hatched larvae, second instar day 0 larvae, third instar day 0 larvae, fourth instar day 0 larvae, and fourth instar molting larvae, the scaffold silk used to attach the cocoon to the substrate and the cocoon silk. Analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry identified 500 proteins from the seven silks. In addition to the expected fibroins, sericins, and some known protease inhibitors, we also identified further protease inhibitors, enzymes, proteins of unknown function, and other proteins. Unsurprisingly, our quantitative results showed fibroins and sericins were the most abundant proteins in all seven silks. Except for fibroins and sericins, protease inhibitors, enzymes, and proteins of unknown function were more abundant than other proteins. We found significant change in silk protein compositions through development, being consistent with their different biological functions and complicated formation.
ISSN:1535-3893
1535-3907
DOI:10.1021/pr4005772