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Takasu Y, Yamada N, Kojima K, Iga M, Yukuhiro F, Iizuka T, Yoshioka T. Fibroin heavy chain gene replacement with a highly ordered synthetic repeat sequence in Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 161:104002. [PMID: 37657611 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The exceptional quality of silkworm silk is attributed to the amino acid sequence of its fibroin heavy chain (Fib-H) protein. The large central domain of Fib-H, which consists of glycine- and alanine-rich crystalline regions interspersed with amorphous motifs of approximately 30 amino acid residues, is considered crucial for fibrilization and determines the properties of the silk fiber. We established a technical platform to modify the Fib-H core region systematically using transcription activator-like effector nuclease-mediated homologous recombination through a somatic and germline gene knockin assay along with PCR-based screening. This efficient knockin system was used to generate a silkworm strain carrying a mutant Fib-H allele, in which the core region was replaced with a highly ordered synthetic repeat sequence of a length comparable with native Fib-H core. Heterozygous knockin mutants produced seemingly normal cocoons, whereas homozygotes did not and exhibited considerable degradation in their posterior silk glands (PSGs). Cross-sectional examination of the PSG lumen and tensile tests conducted on reeled silk threads indicated that the mutant Fib-H, which exhibited reduced stability in the PSG cells and lumen, affected the mechanical properties of the fiber. Thus, sequence manipulation of the Fib-H core domain was identified as a crucial step in successfully creating artificial silk using knockin technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Takasu
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan.
| | - Nobuto Yamada
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Katsura Kojima
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Iga
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Fumiko Yukuhiro
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Iizuka
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Taiyo Yoshioka
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
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Zhou J, Zhou X, Pan L, Deng Y, Zheng H, Peng Z, Wan J, Zhou Y, Wang B. Molecular Evidence of Structural Changes in Silk Using Unlimited Degradation Mass Spectrometry. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:34410-34419. [PMID: 37780015 PMCID: PMC10536863 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Proteomics has important uses in archeological science because it can distinguish species, reveal the evolution of paleontology, and provide biological evidence of historical events. However, this technique still has full potential in the study of silk aging mechanisms. In this work, we propose a strategy combining unlimited degradation with mass-spectrometry-based proteomics techniques, which interpret protein fragmentation propensity and secondary structure changes by detecting content changes of specific peptide groups in complex proteomes. This approach was employed to study the conformational changes in silk microscopic crystals after heat treatment. Combining conventional mechanics and crystallographic characterization, a thermal aging degradation mechanism model was proposed. At the same time, it explained the interesting problem that the crystallinity remained unchanged, but the mechanical properties decreased significantly. Focusing on the unlimited degradation process, this method will be widely applicable to the study of silk and wool aging processes and regenerated silk fibroin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhou
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xiong Zhou
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Lindan Pan
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Yefeng Deng
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Hailing Zheng
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key
Scientific Research Base of Textile Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Zhiqin Peng
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Junmin Wan
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, 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
| | - Bing Wang
- Institute
of Textile Conservation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech
University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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Ma J, Wen S, Yue Z. A stretchable and healable elastomer with shape memory capability based on multiple hydrogen bonds. RSC Adv 2022; 12:21512-21519. [PMID: 35975089 PMCID: PMC9347211 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra03250c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a wide range of self-healing materials have been reported by researchers, it is still a challenge to endow exceptional mechanical properties and shape memory characteristics simultaneously in a single material. Inspired by the structure of natural silk, herein, we have adopted a simple synthetic method to prepare a kind of elastomer (HM-PUs) with stiff, healable and shape memory capabilities assisted by multiple hydrogen bonds. The self-healing elastomer exhibits a maximum tensile strength of 39 MPa, toughness of 111.65 MJ m−3 and self-healing efficiency of 96%. Moreover, the recuperative efficiency of shape memory could reach 100%. The fundamental study of HM-PUs will facilitate the development of flexible electronics and medical materials. Although a wide range of self-healing materials have been reported by researchers, it is still a challenge to endow exceptional mechanical properties and shape memory characteristics simultaneously in a single material.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Ma
- School of Mechanics and Civil & Architecture, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710129 PR China
| | - Shifeng Wen
- School of Mechanics and Civil & Architecture, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710129 PR China
| | - Zhufeng Yue
- School of Mechanics and Civil & Architecture, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710129 PR China
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Yoshioka T, Tsubota T, Tashiro K, Jouraku A, Kameda T. A study of the extraordinarily strong and tough silk produced by bagworms. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1469. [PMID: 30931923 PMCID: PMC6443776 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09350-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyo Yoshioka
- Silk Materials Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Takuya Tsubota
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Kohji Tashiro
- Department of Future Industry-Oriented Basic Science and Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological Institute, Tempaku, Nagoya, 468-8511, Japan
| | - Akiya Jouraku
- Insect Genome Research and Engineering Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Tsunenori Kameda
- Silk Materials Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan.
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Peng Z, Yang X, Liu C, Dong Z, Wang F, Wang X, Hu W, Zhang X, Zhao P, Xia Q. Structural and Mechanical Properties of Silk from Different Instars of Bombyx mori. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:1203-1216. [PMID: 30702870 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Silkworm silk has excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and promising applications in the biomedical sector. Silkworms spin silk at the beginning and end of each of their five instar stages, as well as spinning mature silk after the fifth instar. We evaluated the mechanical properties and structure of 10 kinds of silk fibers from different stages. A tensile test showed that instar beginning silk, instar end silk, and mature silk possess distinct properties. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results showed that the excellent mechanical properties of instar end silk are attributed to higher β-sheet content and suitable crystallinity. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showed that P25 protein content in IV-E silk is 2.9× higher than that of cocoon silk. This study can offer guidelines for further biomimetic investigations into the design and manufacture of artificial silk protein fibers with novel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangchuan Peng
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Xi Yang
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Chun Liu
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Feng Wang
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Xin Wang
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Biological Science Research Center Southwest University , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science Chongqing , Chongqing 400716 , China.,Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials , Chongqing 400716 , China
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