Insect Silks and Cocoons: Structural and Molecular Aspects

Yukuhiro, Kenji; Sezutsu, Hideki; Tsubota, Takuya; Takasu, Yoko; Kameda, Tsunenori; Yonemura, Naoyuki

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40740-1_14

Cited by 6 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 117 publications

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“…Therefore, our extensive RNA-seq analysis provides fundamental insights into the functions of the SG, as well as its evolution, which has not yet been elucidated in detail. In the Lepidoptera, the morphology of the SG is largely diversified among species [63] and the Saturniidae, a family that is phylogenetically close to the Bombycidae, have MSGs with one territory and no morphological separation [6]. Therefore, the differentiation of the MSG gene expression observed herein may be specific to B. mori and/or other closely related species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The detailed structural analysis revealed that the long repetitive motif identified here comprised 53 repeats of a 38-amino acid unit (Figure S5). Each unit had serine-rich residues and a slight difference was observed in the sequences among units (Figure S5) [6]. The 38-amino acid-based repeat unit was also observed in exon 8 of Ser1 (Figures S4 and S5) or in the sericins of saturniid species [6,33], and, thus, the repeat unit of this length is expected to have a structural function in a number of sericin proteins.…”

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Silk genes are strongly expressed in the silk-producing tissue SG, and our extensive RNA-seq data are expected to show highly elaborated models for these genes. Ser1 is one of the major silk genes, is strongly expressed in the MSG, and encodes a >400-kDa serine-rich protein [6,30]. Ser1 is composed of nine exons, among which exon 6 has a long repetitive sequence with a length of~6500 bp [6,31].…”

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ser1 is one of the major silk genes, is strongly expressed in the MSG, and encodes a >400-kDa serine-rich protein [6,30]. Ser1 is composed of nine exons, among which exon 6 has a long repetitive sequence with a length of~6500 bp [6,31]. The full-length sequence of this exon is yet to be elucidated because of its complexity.…”

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The silkworm has the ability to produce large amounts of silk proteins, which is one of the most prominent characteristics of this species. Silk proteins are mainly composed of the fibrous protein Fibroin and aqueous protein sericin, which are produced in the larval tissue silk gland (SG) [6]. A transgenic technique has been applied to the silkworm [7] that has enabled the production of a large amount of recombinant proteins through the introduction of transgenes for overexpression in SG [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reference Transcriptome Data in Silkworm Bombyx mori

Yokoi

Tsubota

Jouraku

et al. 2021

Insects

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Herein, we performed RNA-seq analysis of ten major tissues/subparts of silkworm larvae. The sequences were mapped onto the reference genome assembly and the reference transcriptome data were successfully constructed. The reference data provided a nearly complete sequence for sericin-1, a major silk gene with a complex structure. We also markedly improved the gene model for other genes. The transcriptomic expression was investigated in each tissue and a number of transcripts were identified that were exclusively expressed in tissues such as the testis. Transcripts strongly expressed in the midgut formed tight genomic clusters, suggesting that they originated from tandem gene duplication. Transcriptional factor genes expressed in specific tissues or the silk gland subparts were also identified. We successfully constructed reference transcriptome data in the silkworm and found that a number of transcripts showed unique expression profiles. These results will facilitate basic studies on the silkworm and accelerate its applications, which will contribute to further advances in lepidopteran and entomological research as well as the practical use of these insects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Elaborated Structures Of Silk Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reference Transcriptome Data in Silkworm Bombyx mori

Yokoi

Tsubota

Jouraku

et al. 2021

Insects

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A study of the extraordinarily strong and tough silk produced by bagworms

et al. 2019

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Global ecological damage has heightened the demand for silk as ‘a structural material made from sustainable resources’. Scientists have earnestly searched for stronger and tougher silks. Bagworm silk might be a promising candidate considering its superior capacity to dangle a heavy weight, summed up by the weights of the larva and its house. However, detailed mechanical and structural studies on bagworm silks have been lacking. Herein, we show the superior potential of the silk produced by Japan’s largest bagworm, Eumeta variegata . This bagworm silk is extraordinarily strong and tough, and its tensile deformation behaviour is quite elastic. The outstanding mechanical property is the result of a highly ordered hierarchical structure, which remains unchanged until fracture. Our findings demonstrate how the hierarchical structure of silk proteins plays an important role in the mechanical property of silk fibres.

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Bright green fluorescence of Asian paper wasp nests

Marcillac

Nguyen

Aracheloff

et al. 2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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An exceptionally bright fluorescent biomatter was discovered when exploring, with UV-A light, the nests of several oriental paper wasp species of the genus Polistes , a genus of diurnal social insects. Fluorescence spectra of the cocoon cap membranes revealed narrow emission bands in the green range of the visible spectrum. Large Stokes shifts of around 160 nm and high fluorescence quantum yields of up to 35% were measured. Transmission spectra were recorded in order to estimate the contribution of the fluorescence to the visible light transmitted through the cocoon cap membrane. The nest fluorescence of the Vietnamese wasps was compared with a European and an American species. Potential biological functions of these interesting fluorescence properties of the studied biomaterial are discussed. The discovery of this striking example of a fluorescent terrestrial biomaterial may contribute to the debate on adaptive biological functions of natural fluorescence and falls in line with the growing interest in biodiversity and bio-inspiration.

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Insect Silks and Cocoons: Structural and Molecular Aspects

Cited by 6 publications

References 117 publications

Reference Transcriptome Data in Silkworm Bombyx mori

Reference Transcriptome Data in Silkworm Bombyx mori

A study of the extraordinarily strong and tough silk produced by bagworms

Bright green fluorescence of Asian paper wasp nests

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