Isolation and Characterization of a 41kDa Sericin from the Wild Silkmoth Antheraea yamamai

Abstract

Water-soluble sericin powder was prepared from the cocoons in Antheraea yamamai after elimination of the pigments and inorganic compounds. Polypeptide with apparent molecular mass 41kDa, which was isolated from the powder by gel filtration HPLC and electrophoretic analysis accelerated significantly proliferation of the insect Schneider S2 cells and of the mouse lymphocytes. These results indicate that the peptides derived from A. yamamai sericin have the potential for biopharmaceutical uses similar to the currently used sericins of Bombyx mori and A. mylitta.