• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2002

Natural silk is formed by two proteins : the crystalline fibroin (inside the silk thread) and amorphous sericin (as a tube outside the thread). The degumming process is used to eliminate the external sericin prior to dyeing ; generally it makes use of soaps at about pH 10. Sericin is the protein constituent that "gums"together the fibroin filaments of cocoon silk. It constitutes about 25% of the weight of the cocoon, is soluble in hot water and "gels" on cooling. The removal of sericin from raw silk, known as degumming, is a simple but important process usually employing hot dilute soap or alkaline solution and occasionally dilute acids or enzymic methods. During degumming, alkali is taken up by the sericin and the free acid from the soap is formed ; this may be deposited on the fiber, reducing the rate of degumming and protecting it from hydrolysis. Alkali is often added to maintain or restore the pH of the baths, but it is rarely used alone, since it leaves the silk rather harsh in handle. If complete sericin removal is required as for printing, sodium carbonate may be added. If the pH of the bath exceeds 11, the fibroin is attacked. Recently, According to the development of electrolysis, we can be obtained the electrolytic reduction water(above pH 11.5) and electrolytic oxidation water (below pH 3). The aim of this work was to study a degumming process using electrolytic water and a possibility of sericin recovery. The new degumming process used electrolytic water operates at $95^\circ{C}$ for 2hr. without any reagents. The wastewater of this process are formed by a solution of sericin in water. This conditions suggest the study of a possible recovery of this protein (sericin) which has an amino acid composition suitable for many used in cosmetics, textile finishing agents, animal feeding, etc. The degumming process using electrolytic water is available to reduce treatment costs and pollute and at the same time to recover sericin.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2021

In the present study, the effect of heat treatment on the crystallinity of the outside of silkworm cocoon in nine different silkworm varieties was studied using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Additionally, the morphological structure and moisture regain of the cocoon were examined. The silkworm cocoon showed different colors and external features depending on the silkworm variety. Moreover, the thickness of the filament (15.3-27.6 ㎛) and moisture regain of the cocoon (9.0%-11.0%) were quite different depending on the silkworm variety. The crystallinity index of the cocoon outside varied from 52.1% to 56.1%, depending on the silkworm variety. J300 and MO42 showed the highest (56.1%) and the lowest (52.1%) crystallinity index, respectively, indicating that the microstructure of sericin of the outside of the cocoon was affected by the silkworm variety. Regardless of silkworm variety, their crystallinity indexes decreased from 52.1%-56.1% to 49.9%-43.6% depending on the silkworm variety by the heat treatment at 250 ℃. Interestingly, the crystallinity degree decrease was somewhat different depending on the silkworm variety, implying that the cocoon sericin microstructure is strongly influenced by the silkworm variety.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1987

The genetic analysis was caried out on the boiling-off ratio of cocoon layer, and the amounts of sericin and fibroin in the F1 generation from the diallel crosses of silkworm. The result obtained were as follows : 1. Boiling-off ratio and the amounts of sericin adn fibroin in male and female were over dominqnce and partial dominance, respectively. 2. The additive effect of gene was higher then the dominance effect in the amounts of sericin and fibroin in male and female, and in boiling off ration in female. 3. The direction of dominance in the amounts of sericin and fibroin in male and female was positive and that in boiling off ratio negative. 4. The effect of three characters on the combining ability was significant and their general combining ability was higher than the specific combining ability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2003

Silk sericin (SS) is one of essential components of cocoon filament, comprising granular and high molecular proteins with adhesive and gelatin-like characteristics. Silk fibroin (SF), another main component of cocoon filament, has been investigated by many researchers due to its good physicochenucal properties. Recently, Nam and Park reported that the effect of alcohol addition into the SF solution on the morphology and structural charateristics of SF. (omitted)

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 1975

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of various compositions of artificial diet for silkworms on the cocoon shell fibroin-hydrolyzing with the proteolytic enzyme. The obtained results are summarized as follows： 1. It was found that the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio of the cocoon shell made by silkworms fed with artificial diets was lower than that of the cocoon shell made by silkworms fed with natural diet (mulberry leaf) 2. The amount of soybean meal in the artificial diet was negatively related to the sericin content of cocoon shell but it scarcely affected on the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 3. The increase of sucrose in the artificial diet reduced the sericin content of cocoon shell but it didn't influence on the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 4. A significant difference between male and female silkworms fed with artificial diets was found in the sericin content of cocoon shell but it was not approved in tile fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio. 5. The artificial diet containing 8 per cent of mulberry leaf powder increased the fbroin-hydrolyzing ratio more than that containing 10 per cent of mulberry leaf powder or that containing 8 per cent of mulberry leaf powder and a little of methionine did. 6. The artificial diet for all instars of silkworms increased the fibroin-hydrolyzing ratio more than the artificial diet for 1st to 3rd instars and natural diet (mulberry leaf) for the rest instars did.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.29-33
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• 1973

This experimental work was carried out to examine the relation between the filament characteristic and the tensile property of various cocoon varieties. Cocoons of 21 varieties were used as materials, from which, bave denier (X$_1$), sericin solubility (X$_2$), tenacity (Y$_1$), elongation (Y$_2$), and Young's modulus (Y$_3$) were tested. The formulae estimating tensile properties with denier and sericin solubility are as follows: A) In case of denier. Y$_1$= -0.4X$_1$＋5.03 Y$_2$=1.2X$_1$＋2.7 Y$_3$= -25.2X$_1$＋140.95 B) In case of sericin solubility Y$_1$= -2.4X$_2$＋3.43 Y$_2$=20X$_2$＋3.7 Y$_3$= -120X$_2$＋78.37.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1976

The study was carried out to investigate the variations in the fibroin hydrolysis of different cocoon shell layers, and the relationship between the hydrolysis and silk physical property. The obtained results are as follows: 1. The fibroin hydrolyzing ratio was highest at the inner layer of cocoon shell and. next in order. at the middle layer and at the outer layer. 2. The fibroin hydrolyzing ratio of abnormal cocoons was higher than normal cocoon and it was different among them, tile highest was double coroon, thin shell cocoon and perforated cocoon in order. 3. The sericin content and fibroin hydrolyzing ratio of Jam 111 and Jam 112 was higher than that of Jam 111 $\times$ Jam 112. 4. The fibroin hydroiyzing ratio of the cocoons fed with the artificial diets was increased at the inner layer. The sericin content of those lessened at the inner layer, however, it slightly increased at the most inner layer more than at the inner layer. 5. The breaking strength of the degummed silk fiber of different cocoon layers was reduced at the inner layer. The breaking Strength of abnormal silk fiber was less than that of normal silk fiber. 6. A negative correlation (r= －0.8) )was approved between fibroin hydrolyzing ratio and breaking strength of silk fiber, and the regression line was Y=－0.29x＋5.07.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2020

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) is a representative marker for inflammation. Silk sericin is known as mild TNFα inducer. The purpose of this study was to compare the level of TNFα among different fractions of silk sericin. Silk sericin was extracted from cocoon and separated it by molecular weight. Each fraction was applied to RAW264.7 cells. The level of TNFα was evaluated by western blot and ELISA assay. In results, the level of TNFα was increased as time-dependent manner. Higher molecular weight fraction of sericin induced higher amount of TNFα than lower molecular weight fraction. In conclusion, different molecular weight fraction of sericin induced TNFα differently.

• 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.17 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 1975

This study is to investigate the content of crude protein intruded in the sericin of cocoon shell and pupa by treatment of buffer solution (pH 1 to pH 13) 20 ml per 1 gram for 30 and 60 minutes at 30$^{\circ}C$, 60$^{\circ}C$ and 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The quantity of total crude protein obtained from cocoon shell and pupa by treatment during 30 minutes at 30$^{\circ}C$ was dissolved as the largest quantity of 11.874 mg/g at pH 1 and l5.93mg/g at pH 13, but dissolved the smallest quantity 1.75g/g at pH 5 as known. and tile quantity of crude protein treated for 60 minutes is 13.437mg/g at pH 1 and 22.50mg/g at pH 13. Also, the smallest quantity is 2. 813mg/g at pH 5 as known. 2. By the treatment during 30 minutes at 60$^{\circ}C$, the dissolved largest quantity was 13.12mg/g at pH 1 and 21.875 mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 2.375mg/g at pH 5 as known After treatment for 60 minutes at 60$^{\circ}C$, the dissolved largest quantity was 17.500 mg/g at pH 1 and 31.56mg/g at pH 13, bu the smallest quantity is 3.849 mg/g at pH 5. 3. The dissolved crude protein from the cocoon shell and pupa by treatment for 30 minutes at 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$ was the largest quantity of 147.000mg/g at pH 1 and 398. 125mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 75.00mg/g at pH 5 as known. After treatment for 60 minutes at 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$, the largest quantity was 253.76 mg/g at pH 1 and 460.625mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 139.375mg/g at pH 5 as known. 4. The dissolved crude protein from the cocoon shell and pupa was not different in quantity by treatment at 30$^{\circ}C$ or 60$^{\circ}C$. But dissolved crude protein was large quantity from cocoon shell more than pupa, as known. 5. The treatment of cocoon shell and pupa during 60 minutes at 100${\pm}$20$^{\circ}C$ was increased to the dissolved largest quantity of crude protein of 19.20％ at pH 1 and 22. 18％ at pH 13 from the cocoon shell and 6. 12％ at pH, an d 23.87％ at pH 13 from the pupa. But dissolved crude protein was increased to the larger quantity from pupa more than cocoon shell.