• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2005

In this study we report on the estrogen activity of silkworm pupa and herb extracts in vitro. The estrogenic activity of these resources was investigated by competition binding assays with estrogen receptor $\alpha(ER{\alpha})\;or\;ER{\beta}$, and viability of MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line. Saturation ligand-binding analysis of $ER{\alpha}\;and\;ER{\beta}$ revealed that all plant extracts competed with estrogen ligand for binding to both ER subtypes with a similar preference and degree and competed stronger with ligand for binding to $ER{\beta}\;than\;to\;ER{\alpha}$. The highest $ER{\alpha}-binding$ sample was silkworm pupa aqueous extract The highest $ER{\beta}-binding$ sample was silkworm pupa oil. These samples were further tested for bioactivity based on their ability to regulate cell growth rate in ER(+) breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells. Our studies showed that silkworm pupa, soritae, sesame, yam, pueraria, malt, ginseng, Polygonum multiflorum, and Curcuma longa significantly stimulated the growth of MCF-7 cells (P<0.05). In summary, these results suggested that silkworm pupa and herbs might be useful as potential phytoestrogens.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 1998

To understand expression of some early and late genes of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) in the B. mori-derived BmN cell line, the transcripts were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with synthetic primers. After infection, the transcript of early genes, which include p35, IE1 and helicase p143, was immediately detected in the infected cells. In addition, the transcript of late genes, which include p10 and polyhedrin, was also detected in just-infected cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that transcripts of early and late genes of BmNPV are immediately expressed from the cells after infection.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.26-27
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• 2004

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2002

A recombinant transfer vector pBacSCF was constructed by inserting huamn stem cell factor (hSCF) cDNA into plasmid pBacPAK8. BmN cells were co-transfected with modified Bombyx mori, nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmBacPAK) DNA and the recmbinant transfer vector to construct a recombinant baculovirus containing hSCE gene. DNA dot blotting and RNA dot blotting demonstrated that the hSCE gene was contained in the recombinant virus and transcribed. The recombinant baculovirus was infectious to BmN cells and to silkworm. SDS-PAGE analysis showed a specific band of expressed product in the extract of infected cells and in the heamolymph of infected larvae. Bioactivity of the recombinant hSCE was determined with W-1 cell line and MTT colorimetric method in synergy with interlukin-3 (IL-3). These results revealed that the hSCF gene was over-expressed in cultured cells and lavae of silkworm.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1778-1783
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• 2011

Hematopoietic cytokines regulate production of blood cells by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells. Among these hematopoietic cytokines, called hematopoitic growth factors, glranulocyte-colony stimulating Factor (G-CSF), which regulates growth of neutrophils, is one of important therapeutic factors because cancer patients suffer with neutropenia which is severe reduction of neutrophils after chemotherapy. Two groups of recombinant G-CSF have approved and used for therapeutic purposes and many researches are still on-going to produce recombinant G-CSF by different techniques. We engineered human G-CSF with Bombyx specific endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signal sequence, therefore, secretion of human G-CSF protein was improved in Bombyx mori-origined cell line, Bm5. The Bombyx ER signal sequence and human G-CSF matured protein region chimera was further remodeled at the N-terminus of matured G-CSF protein to understand roles of N-terminus on outer cellular secretion and/or production. Three different mutants were generated deleting three amino acids in non alpha-helical region in N-terminus in order to scan important amino acids for G-CSF secretion. One of 3 different N-terminal deletion mutants showed dramatically reduction of secreted amount of G-CSF indicating its important role on secretion. The data suggest that remodeling in non alpha-helical region of N-terminus is also important for recombinant G-CSF production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.907-911
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• 2011

Using silkworm Bombyx mori Bm5 cells, we established a stable cell line expressing the human keratinocyte growth factor (hKGF), named by the Bm5-hKGF cell, in which the protein hKGF is synthesized in the cell and secreted in the cell culture supernatant (CCS) at approximately 15-20 ng/ml. When the Bm5-hKGF cell was co-expressed with B. mori protein disulfide isomerase (bPDI) cDNA, its secretion increased by about two times the original amount. Through wound healing migration assay, it was demonstrated that the secreted hKGF included in the CCS has a very powerful biological activity of keratinocyte proliferation. We expect to produce useful human recombinant proteins from silkworm cultured cells in large quantities at low prices.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.187-190
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• 1998

The cytotoxic activity of MeOH extracts of the freeze-dried silkworm (Bombyx mori)-derived materials (4th instar larvae, female and mate pupae, virgin female and male adult), dried Beauveria bassiana-infected silkworm larvae, dried feces from the 4th instar larvae B. mori, and dried mulberry (Morus alba)-derived materials (leaves, fruits, root barks) in vitro was evaluated by sulforhodamine B assay, using the five human solid A 549 lung, SK-OV-2 ovarian, SK-MEL-2 melanoma, XF-498 CNS and HCT-15 colon tumor cell lines. The responses varied with both cell line and material used. The 70% hot MeOH extract of B. mori feces (BFH) revealed potent cytotoxic activity against model tumor cell lines whereas moderate activity was observed from the MeOH extract of B. mori feces. M. alba root barks, and M. alba fruits. The other test materials were ineffective. Because of its potent cytotoxic activity, the activity of each solvent fraction from the BFH was determined. Chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed the most potent cytotoxic activity. In conclusion, our results may be an indication of at least one of the pharmacological actions of B. mori feces. M. alba root barks, and M. alba fruits.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 2008

The antioxidant potential of silk protein sericin from the non-mulberry tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta cocoon has been assessed and compared with that of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. Skin fibroblast cell line (AH927) challenged with hydrogen peroxide served as the positive control for the experiment. Our results showed that the sericin obtained from tasar cocoons offers protection against oxidative stress and cell viability is restored to that of control on pre-incubation with the sericin. Fibroblasts pre-incubated with non-mulberry sericin had significantly lower levels of catalase; lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde activity when compared to untreated ones. This report indicates that the silk protein sericin from the non-mulberry tropical tasar silkworm, A. mylitta can serve as a valuable antioxidant.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1974

The electron micrographs of the larval brain of the silkworm. Bembyx mori. show that median neurosecretory cell of diapause-egg producer may participate in the production of lipo-granules and that of non-diapause egg producer may do in the production of electron-translucent vesicles. It was found that ribosome-like particles of diapause-egg producer gradually developed into highly dense particles and came into line along the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. They finally became lipo-granules.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2003

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, 1-deoxynojirimycin, has been shown to eliminate the production of ER-budding viruses in the ER of host cell. This glucose-derived iminosugar derivative, 1-DNJ, has been largely purified from midgut of silkworm, Bombyx mori, Here, we have screened the antiviral activity in the GBV-B infected marmoset hepatocyte cell line. (omitted)