Modification of Silk Proteins by Transgenic Technique

Abstract

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has been kept for silk production and has been improved throughout history to produce high quality silk. Nevertheless, silk proteins have not changed from those in the wild race, Bombyx mandarina. We have been studying to modify silk proteins on physical properties and functionalities by transgenic technology. Here, we will present construction of transgenic silkworms, and physical properties and functional modification of silk fiber produced by the transgenic silkworm.