Toxins
·
2022
·Vol. 14
·期 7
·421
·
IF 5.075
Vivian Andoh,Liang Chen,Feifei Zhu,Qi Ge,Lin Ma,Qiang Wang,Keping Chen
Melanin has been reported to have potential applications in industries such as cosmetics and food due to its anti-UV and antioxidative qualities. However, the corresponding data on its safety evaluation or biological consequences are fairly limited; such data are critical given its widespread use. The effect of different concentrations (1, 2, 3, and 4%) of melanin on growth status (larvae length and weight, cocoon weight, and morphology), the microstructure of the various tissues (fat body, silk gland, and midgut), and silk properties was studied by using the silkworm (bombyx mori) as the model organism. The weight and length of silkworm larvae fed with melanin were lower than the control, indicating that melanin appears to have a negative effect on the growth status of silkworms; however, the histophysiology analysis indicates that the cell morphologies are not changed, the XRD and FTIR spectra indicate that the secondary and crystalline structures of silks are also well preserved, and the thermogravimetric analysis and tensile test indicate that the thermal stability and mechanical properties are well maintained and even improved to some extent. Generally, it indicates that melanin has a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of silkworm larva but causes no harm to the cell microstructures or silk properties; this demonstrates that the safety of melanin as a food addictive should be considered seriously. The increase of thermal stability and mechanical properties shows that melanin may be a good chemical modifier in textile industries.Keywords:melanin;biological effects;silkworm;silk propertiesKey Contribution:Melanin caused silkworms to lose weight. While silkworms provide an excellent platform for studying melanin toxicity, melanin substantially improved the mechanical characteristics of silkworm silk.
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
材料科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2017
·
IF 3.154
Long Liu,Yanan Wei,Qing Chang,Huaju Sun,Kungang Chai,Zuqiang Huang,Zhenxia Zhao,Zhongxing Zhao
A novel, moderately hydrophilic peptide (RYL) with high ACE-inhibitory activity was screened ultrafast via a concept of waste conversion using waste. This novel peptide was screened from silkworm pupa using an Fe-doped porous biocarbon (FL/Z-SE) derived from silkworm excrement. FL/Z-SE possessed magnetic properties and specific selection for peptides due to Fe’s dual functions. The selected RYL, which has moderate hydrophilicity (LogP = −0.22), exhibited a comparatively high ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50 = 3.31 ± 0.11 μM). The inhibitory kinetics and docking-simulation results show that, as a competitive ACE inhibitor, RYL formed five hydrogen bonds with the ACE residues in the S1 and S2 pockets. In this work, both the screening carbon material and the selected ACE-inhibitory peptide were derived from agricultural waste (silkworm excrement and pupa), which offers a new way of thinking about the development of advanced uses of the silkworm byproducts and wastes.
研究领域:
生物技术
·
环境科学
·
药学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
·
2022
·Vol. 200
·期 12
·5260-5272
·
IF 4.081
Fometu Sandra Senyo,Ma Qiang,Wang JinJin,Guo Jianjun,Ma Lin,Wu Guohua
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are widely used in various disciplines, and it is imperative to evaluate their safety in the environment. In this paper, Bombyx mori (silkworm) was used as a model organism to evaluate the biological effects of different sized TiO 2 NPs, taking into consideration their effect on the larval growth, cocoon shell weight, tissues, and silk produced. The effect of the different sized TiO 2 NPs on the larval and cocoon shell weight was dose-dependent. The highest accumulation of titanium (Ti) following a modified TiO 2 NPs-treated mulberry diet was observed in the midgut. The expression of the light chain fibroin (FIBL) was three times higher in 0.33 g TiO 2 NPs-treated silk gland after 96 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis demonstrated that TiO 2 NPs-treated silk fiber (TiSF) exhibited a diminutive decrease in silk fiber (SF) crystallization and β-sheet compared to the control SF, respectively. The tensile tests of SF from silkworm fed with 0.03 g of 25 nm TiO 2 NPs were significantly improved when compared to the control SF. Significant changes in the surface morphology and thermal stability of SF were observed. The antimicrobial activity of TiSF was investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , with ciprofloxacin-treated SF acting as a control. It was documented that 0.09 g of 60 nm TiSF was most effective against P. aeruginosa at a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 21.06 mm when compared with the control SF which recorded a ZOI of 17.19 mm. This study highlighted a different approach in evaluating the biological effects of TiO 2 NPs using the silkworm as a model and assessing their impact on the silk intrinsic property, which will be effective in biotechnology applications.
研究领域:
生物学
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材料科学
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环境科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
RSC Advances
·
2015
·Vol. 5
·期 93
·76526-76537
·
IF 3.84
Jiabing Ran,Jingxiao Hu,Guanglin Sun,Si Chen,Li Chen,Xinyu Shen,Hua Tong
In this research, gelatin-tussah silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite (GEL-TSF/HAp), gelatin-Bombyx mori silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite (GEL-BMSF/HAp), and gelatin/hydroxyapatite (GEL/HAp) nano-composites were synthesized by a novel in situ precipitation method. Characterizations, including surface morphology, elemental composition and distribution, structure of the crystalline phase, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and in vitro cytocompatibility, were carried out. Investigations on the crystalline phase showed that rod-like HAp crystallites in the GEL-TSF/HAp composite had a higher aspect ratio than those in the GEL-BMSF/HAp composite and the GEL/HAp composite. In addition, the GEL-TSF/HAp composite also presented better thermal stability than the other two composites revealed by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties testing indicated that the GEL-TSF/HAp composite had a higher elastic modulus at low strain and higher compressive modulus at high strain simultaneously than the other two composites. An in vitro cell culture showed that MG63 osteoblast-like cells on the GEL-TSF/HAp membrane took on higher proliferative potential than those on the GEL-BMSF/HAp membrane. These results indicated that compared to the GEL-BMSF/HAp composite, the GEL-TSF/HAp composite was more suitable for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications.
研究领域:
生物材料学
·
医学工程
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 2.6
Zhi-hao Su,Jun-li Lv,Qi Ou,Zi-qin Zhao,Kai-yi Zheng,Xiao-ying Zhang,Wen-qing Lai,Xue-yang Wang,Ming-jie Deng,Mu-wang Li
The white epidermis of silkworms is due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals. Abnormal silkworm uric acid metabolism decreases uric acid production, leading to a transparent or translucent phenotype. The oily silkworm op50 is a mutant strain with a highly transparent epidermis derived from the p50 strain. It shows more susceptibility to Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection than the wild type; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. This study analysed the changes in 34 metabolites in p50 and op50 at different times following BmNPV infection based on comparative metabolomics. The differential metabolites were mainly clustered in six metabolic pathways. Of these, the uric acid pathway was identified as critical for resistance in silkworms, as feeding with inosine significantly enhanced larval resistance compared to other metabolites and modulated other metabolic pathways. Additionally, the increased level of resistance to BmNPV in inosine-fed silkworms was associated with the regulation of apoptosis, which is mediated by the reactive oxygen species produced during uric acid synthesis. Furthermore, feeding the industrial strain Jingsong (JS) with inosine significantly increased the level of larval resistance to BmNPV, indicating its potential application in controlling the virus in sericulture. These results lay the foundation for clarifying the resistance mechanism of silkworms to BmNPV and provide new strategies and methods for the biological control of pests.
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
分子生物学
·
病毒学
·
代谢组学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
·
2022
·
IF 6.064
Ji Yansong,Zhang Xiaoning,Zhu Yong,Norton Michael L.,Shen Lunfu,Tan Wenhui,Zheng Xi,Li Shuo
A previous study found that the capacitive behavior of nanoparticles fed to the silkworm can be delivered to carbonized silk fibers, which can be used to fabricate electrodes for the construction of flexible supercapacitors. However, the tendency of nanoparticles to aggregate decreases the quantity of nanoparticles that enter the silk and therefore reduces the capacitance performance of the prepared carbonized silk. Here, we sprayed ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate (AMT) on the surface of mulberry leaves used for feeding silkworms and investigated the effect of feeding AMT on the growth of silkworms and the properties of spun silk. The precursor incorporated into the silk was converted into scattered MoO2 NPs, which were embedded within the carbonized silk fiber (CSF) via carbothermal reduction. The specific capacitance of CSF obtained from silkworms fed with an aqueous solution of AMT-treated mulberry leaves reached up to 298 F/g at 0.2 g/A, which is much higher than that of the control group (102 F/g). Since AMT is highly water-soluble, and its concentration can be easily modulated, we believe that the proposed strategy is feasible for the large-scale fabrication of CSF with enhanced capacitive performance.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
电化学
·
生物材料
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 9
Han Li,Yushan Li,Huailing Diao,Haipeng Ren,Jianming Chen,Jinfeng Wang,Qingtao Liu,Xungai Wang
Wild silk cocoons are light-weight composite structures with unique properties. One such property is the intriguing CO 2 gating property (i.e., unidirectional flow of CO 2 ) exhibited by the wild Antheraea pernyi ( A. pernyi ) silkworm cocoon. This study investigated the hierarchical structural and compositional features of A. pernyi cocoons and their impact on CO 2 adsorption. For the first time, soap-film flowmeter testing method and gas permeability testing method were used to quantitatively demonstrate the A. pernyi cocoons’ CO 2 adsorption property and selectivity for gas mixture. The results showed that the multi-layered composite structure of A. pernyi cocoons, coupled with calcium oxalate crystals, play a crucial role in their CO 2 adsorption and separation performance. These findings shed light on the unique functional design of wild silk cocoons and provide a new biomimetic approach for developing materials and structures to address global challenges such as CO 2 capture and storage.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
环境科学
·
仿生学
·
气体分离
·
纳米技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization
·
2022
·Vol. 16
·期 6
·4470-4485
·
IF 3.006
Nilsson Klara,Sandström Corine,Özeren Hüsamettin Deniz,Vilaplana Francisco,Hedenqvist Mikael,Langton Maud
The structure and physicochemical properties of starch isolated from the cotyledon and hull of faba beans and from wheat (as reference) were examined using 16 different methods. The amylose content in faba bean cotyledon and hull starch was 32% and 36%, respectively, and that in wheat starch was 21%. The faba bean cotyledon and hull starch were structurally alike both displaying C-polymorphic pattern, a similar degree of branching and similar branch chain length distributions. Wheat starch had a significantly greater prevalence of short amylopectin chains (DP < 12) and a higher degree of branching. Granules in both faba bean starches exhibited surface cracks and were more homogenous in size than the smoother wheat starch granules. Gelatinisation temperature was higher for the faba bean starches, likely as an effect of high amylose content and longer starch chains delaying granular swelling. Cotyledon starch produced pastes with the highest viscosities in all rheological measurements, probably owing to larger granules. Higher prevalence of lipids and resistant starch reduced the viscosity values for hull starch. For all starches, viscosity increased at faster heating rates. During the rheological analyses, the samples were exposed to different instruments, heating rates and temperatures ranges, differing from standard rheological procedures, which could help predict how different processing techniques effect the final starch textures. Graphical abstract
研究领域:
食品科学
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植物化学
·
生物材料
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
·
2018
·
IF 5.179
Quan Gan,Xinwei Zhang,Daobo Zhang,Liang Shi,Yue Zhou,Tongtong Sun,Song Jiang,Junshan Gao,Yan Meng
Sucrose is the most commonly transported sugar in plants and is easily assimilated by insects to fulfill the requirement of physiological metabolism. BmSuc1 is a novel animal β-fructofuranosidase (β-FFase, EC 3.2.1.26) - encoding gene that was firstly cloned and identified in silkworm , Bombyx mori . BmSUC1 was presumed to play an important role in the silkworm-mulberry enzymatic adaptation system by effectively hydrolyzing sucrose absorbed from mulberry leaves. However, this has not been proved with direct evidence thus far. In this study, we investigated sucrose hydrolysis activity in the larval midgut of B. mori by inhibition tests and found that sucrase activity mainly stemmed from β-FFase, not α-glucosidase. Next, we performed shRNA-mediated transgenic RNAi to analyze the growth characteristics of silkworm larvae and variations in glycometabolism in vivo in transgenic silkworms. The results showed that in the RNAi- BmSuc1 transgenic line, larval development was delayed, and their body size was markedly reduced. Finally, the activity of several disaccharidases alone in the midgut and the sugar distribution, total sugar and glycogen in the midgut, hemolymph and fat body were then determined and compared. Our results demonstrated that silencing BmSuc1 significantly reduced glucose and apparently activated maltase and trehalase in the midgut. Together with a clear decrease in both glycogen and trehalose in the fat body, we conclude that BmSUC1 acts as an essential sucrase by directly modulating the degree of sucrose hydrolysis in the silkworm larval midgut, and insufficient sugar storage in the fat body may be responsible for larval malnutrition and abnormal petite phenotypes.
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
GENE
·
2015
·
IF 2.138
Ping Chen,Jiying Wang,Haiyin Li,Yan Li,Peng Chen,Tian Li,Xi Chen,Junjie Xiao,Liang Zhang
In insects, pigment patterns are formed by melanin, ommochromes, and pteridines. Here, the effects of pteridine synthesis on melanin formation were studied using 4th instar larvae of a wild-type silkworm strain, dazao ( Bombyx mori ), with normal color and markings. Results from injected larvae and in vitro integument culture indicated that decreased activity of guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CH I, a rate-limiting enzyme for pteridine synthesis), lowers BH4 (6R- l -erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin, a production correlated with GTP-CH I activity) levels and eliminates markings and coloration. The conversion of phenylalanine and tyrosine to melanin was prevented when GTP-CH I was inhibited. When BH4 was added, phenylalanine was converted to tyrosine , and the tyrosine concentration increased. Tyrosine was then converted to melanin to create normal markings and coloration. Decreasing GTP-CH I activity did not affect L-DOPA (3,4- l -dihydroxyphenylalanine). GTP-CH I affected melanin synthesis by generating the BH4 used in two key reaction steps: (1) conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine by PAH (phenylalanine hydroxylase) and (2) conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA by TH (tyrosine hydroxylase). Expression profiles of BmGTPCH Ia , BmGTPCH Ib , BmTH , and BmPAH in the integument were consistent with the current findings.
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
生物化学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
PLANT CELL REPORTS
·
2024
·Vol. 43
·期 4
·1-15
·
IF 5.3
Ma Guanglei,Hu Bijie,Yang Siyin,Cen Zixuan,Zheng Yiran,Dong Yan
Key message The regulatory action of BXs secreted by wheat on the pathogenicity of FOF causing Fusarium wilt in faba bean were analyzed. DIMBOA and MBOA weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. Abstract A large number of pathogenic bacteria in continuous cropping soil infect faba bean plants, leading to the occurrence of wilt disease, which restricts their production. Faba bean–wheat intercropping is often used to alleviate this disease. This study investigates the effect of benzoxazinoids (BXs) secreted by wheat root on the pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Fabae (FOF) and underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of DIMBOA(2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-4-one) and MBOA(6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2-one) on the activity of cell-wall-degrading enzymes in FOF(cellulase, pectinase, amylase, and protease), FOF Toxin (fusaric acid, FA) content were investigated through indoor culture experiments. The effect of BXs on the metabolic level of FOF was analyzed by metabonomics to explore the ecological function of benzoxazines intercropping control of Fusarium wilt in faba bean. The results show that the Exogenous addition of DIMBOA and MBOA decreased the activity of plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes and fusaric acid content and significantly weakened the pathogenicity of FOF. DIMBOA and MBOA significantly inhibited the pathogenicity of FOF, and metabolome analysis showed that DIMBOA and MBOA reduced the pathogenicity of FOF by down-regulating related pathways such as nucleotide metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism, thus effectively controlling the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in faba bean.
研究领域:
植物学
·
微生物学
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Biomolecules
·
2025
·Vol. 15
·期 4
·492
·
IF 4.8
Xia Xu,Chunguang Cui,Xin Du,Jine Chen,Xiuling He,Linbao Zhu,Chengjie Hu,Fang Xu,Chenkai Ma,Shaofang Yu,Xingjian He,Houhui Song,Yongqiang Wang
Lipid metabolism serves as the primary energy source for organisms. Silkworm eggs for spring use are divided into two types: autumn-produced eggs for next spring rearing (AS) and spring-produced eggs for next spring rearing (SS). Production practice revealed significant differences in hatching rates between these two types of silkworm production strain QiufengA. In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) primarily enriched in energy metabolism pathways. In particular, the PPARs are involved in energy regulation through lipid metabolism. Furthermore, both AS and SS contained the same eight long-chain fatty acids but in different amounts. Interference with PPARs activity in silkworm eggs disrupted the expression of key genes in this pathway, resulting in a significant decrease in hatching rate. Additionally, knockdown of the pathway key geneBmPlin4led to the reduction in lipid droplets. In conclusion, PPARs regulates the hatching rate of silkworms mainly by affecting lipid metabolism. This study proved the importance of PPARs for hatching and identifies them as potential target genes for population control.
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
分子生物学
·
遗传学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）