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Copper in the silk formation process of Bombyx mori silkworm
Author(s) -
Zhou Li,
Chen Xin,
Shao Zhengzhong,
Zhou Ping,
Knight David P.,
Vollrath Fritz
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)01184-0
Subject(s) - bombyx mori , silk , bombyx , fibroin , copper , chemistry , sericin , polymer science , biochemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , composite material , gene
Evidence is presented here that cupric ions play a part in the natural spinning of Bombyx mori silk. Proton induced X‐ray emission studies revealed that the copper content increased from the posterior part to the anterior part of silk gland, and then further increased in the silk fiber. Spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that cupric ions formed coordination complexes with silk fibroin chains while Raman spectroscopy indicated that they induced a conformation transition from random coil/helix to β‐sheet. Taken together these findings indicate that copper could play a role in the natural spinning process in silkworms.