Recombinant production and film properties of full-length hornet silk proteins

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24580086
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied entomology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: KAMEDA Tsunenori 独立行政法人農業生物資源研究所, 新機能素材研究開発ユニット, ユニット長 (70334042)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 昆虫新素材

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Full-length versions of the four main components of silk cocoons of Vespa simillima hornets, Vssilk1-4, were produced as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. In shake flasks, the recombinant Vssilk proteins yielded 160-330 mg recombinant protein/L. Films generated from solutions of single Vssilk proteins had similar secondary structure to that of films generated from native hornet silk. The films made from individual recombinant hornet silk proteins had similar or enhanced mechanical performance to that of films generated from native hornet silk. The pH-dependent changes in zeta (Zeta) potential of each Vssilk film were measured, and isoelectric
points (pIs) of Vssilk1-4 were determined. Films generated from Vssilk1 and 2 had net positive charge under physiological conditions and showed significantly higher cell adhesion activity.

Free Research Field

昆虫利用学