High-yield degumming methods for preparing sericin from cocoons of mulberry and non-mulberry silkworms

Abstract

　We developed high-yield degumming methods for preparing sericin from the cocoons of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori and the non-mulberry silkworms of Antheraea yamamai, and Cricula trifenestrata. We achieved sericin yields of 54%-55% from B. mori cocoons extracted in 0.24% NaOH, from A. yamamai cocoons extracted in 0.025% NaOH + 0.475% Na₂CO₃, and from C. trifenestrata cocoons extracted in 0.5% Na₂CO₃. In all three extracts, analysis of amino acid compositions indicated a high degree of sericin purity and Tricine–SDS-PAGE analysis indicated degradation to heterogeneous polypeptides. Thus, sericin prepara-tions produced from the cocoons of silkworms by high-yield degumming methods offer promise for biomedical and industrial ap-plications.