Silkworms, Bombyx mori L., have been traditionally used as an oriental medicine to manage diverse pathological conditions including dermatological problems in East Asia, in addition to the use of their cocoons for making fabrics. The “mature” silkworms of B. mori have recently been regarded as a potential health supplement due to gaining their edibility for humans by a newly-developed steaming method. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a larval powder of steamed mature silkworms (SMSP) on skin pigmentation and melanogenesis. Orally administered SMSP of pistachio cocoon strain significantly and reduced abnormal pigmentation caused by ultraviolet B on the murine dorsal skin. SMSP also showed a potential anti-melanogenic efficacy in modulating UVB-induced melanogenesis.

To product the blue fluorescent protein (AmCyan) expressed cocoon, we were fused AmCyan cDNA to the heavy chain gene and injected the gene into a silkworm. AmCyan was one of the existing violet fluorochromes and originally derived from the fluorescent protein amFP486. AmFP486 was cloned from the sea anemone Anemonia majano (GenBank accession number AF168421), and belongs to the family of fluorescent proteins (FPs) isolated from coral reef organisms. The AmCyan fusion protein, each with N- and C- terminal sequences or the fibroin H-chain, were designed to be secreted into the lumen of the posterior silk glands. The expression of the AmCyan/H-chain fusion gene was regulated by the fibroin H-chain promoter. The use of the 3xP3 EGFP as a marker allowed us to rapidly distinguish transgenic silkworm. Mixtures of the donor and helper vectors were micro-injected into 300 eggs of bivoltine silkworms (Baegokjam). EGFP fluorescence was observed in 3 broods of transgenic silkworms under a florescence stereomicroscope. The cocoon was displayed strong blue fluorescence, proving that the fusion protein was present in the cocoon. Accordingly, we suggest that the AmCyan gene expressed cocoon will be enable the production of the novel biomaterials based on the transgenic silk.

본(本) 실험(實驗)은 견층(繭層) seicin에 대(對)한 몇가지 화학약제(化學藥劑) 처리(處理)의 온도별(溫度別), 농도별(濃度別) seicin 용해성(溶解性)에 미치는 영향(影響)을 조사(調査)하였던 바 다음과 같은 결과(結果)를 얻었다. 1. 공시(供試) 해서촉진제중(解舒促進劑中) 견층(繭層) seicin의 용해촉진력(溶解促進力)이 가장 큰 약제(藥劑)는 sodium peroxide()였으며, sodium carbonate(), sodium sulfite() ammonia water()의 순(順)으로 용해촉진력(溶解促進力)이 작았다. 2. 공시(供試) 해서억제제중(解舒抑制劑中) 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 가장 큰 약제(藥劑)는 tannic acid()였으며, stannic acid(), formic acid(HCOOH)< methyl alcohol()의 순(順)으로 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 작았다. 3. 공시(供試) 해서억제제중(解舒抑制劑中)에서 formic acid와 stannic acid는 의 고온(苦蘊)에서는 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해(溶解)를 크게 촉진(促進)하였다. 4. 공시(供試) 해서억제제중(解舒抑制劑中) methyl alcohol의 경우(境遇)는 저농도(低濃度)에서는 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 전혀 없었다.

본(本) 시험(試驗)은 제사용수(製絲用水)에 대(對)한 몇가지 화학약제(化學藥劑)의 처리(處理)가 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해성(溶解性)에 미치는 영향(影響)을 조사(調査)하였던 바, 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해량(溶解量) 조절(調節)에 참고자료(參考資料)가 될 수 있는 다음과 같은 결과(結果)를 얻었다. 공시(供試) 약제(藥劑) 중(中)에서 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해촉진력(溶解促進力)이 가장 큰 약제(藥劑)는 Sodium Hydroxide(NaOH)였으며, Potassium Hydroxide(KOH) > Sodium Silicate() > Sodium Bicarbonate()의 순(順)으로 용해추진력(溶解促進力)이 작았다. 공시(供試) 약제(藥劑) 중(中)에서 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 가장 큰 약제(藥劑)는 Form Aldehyde(HGHO)였으며, Ammonium Alum() > Acetic Acid() > Hydrochloric Acid(HCl)의 순(順)으로 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 작았다. 공시(供試) 약제(藥劑) 중(中)에서 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해억제력(溶解抑制力)이 클 것으로 기대(期待)했던 Hydrochloric Acid(HCl)은 이상(以上)의 고온(高溫)에서는 오히려 견층(繭層) sericin의 용해(鎔解)를 크게 촉진(促進)함을 알 수 있었다.