The minichromosome maintenance protein (MCM) family is involved in the regulatory role of DNA replication in eukaryotic organisms. A cDNA encoding of an MCM of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), was cloned by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequenced. The resultant amino acid sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed high identity to MCM, and ...

Autophagy is associated with multiple biological processes and has protective and defensive functions with respect to immunity, inflammation, and resistance to microbial infection. In this experiment, we wished to investigate whether autophagy is a factor in the midgut cell response of Bombyx mori to infection by the B. mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV). Our results indicated that the...

The insect neuropeptide family FXPRLa, which carries the Phe-Xaa-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH2 sequence at the C-terminus, is involved in many physiological processes. Although ligand-receptor interactions in FXPRLa signaling have been examined using in vitro assays, the correlation between these interactions and in vivo physiological function is unclear. Diapause in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is thought to ...

It is recognized that P25 is one of three polypeptide components of the fibroin synthesized in the larval silk gland (SG) of silkworm, having two glycosylated isoforms. In the present study, however, eight P25 isoforms were separated by proteomics, including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of whole SG proteins, and were identified by the peptide mass fingerprinting method. Four of the eight...

An enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of L-amino acids has been isolated from silkworm eggs (Bombyx mori L.), and purified. The activity of the enzyme preparation is about 1584 times more than that of the crude preparation. Methods of purification of the enzyme are described in detail and certain physicochemical properties of the enzyme are also described.

MR 2 variety mulberry leaves were sterilized with UV light for 5, 10 and 15 minutes. These leaves were fed to PM x NB 4 D 2 hybrid silkworm Bombyx mori Linn. life stages and recorded the macromolecular contents (total protein, reducing sugar and glycogen) and digestive enzymes (amylase, invertase and protease) activities. Results revealed feeding of silkworm B. mori with UV treated mulberry lea...