Dissolving whole cocoon silk proteins by using a pH-adjusted buffered LiBr solution

Abstract

We report a method for dissolving simultaneously both fibroin and sericin from a cocoon by using a pH-adjusted buffered lithium bromide (LiBr) solution. Buffered 9 M LiBr solution at pH 9 was able to dissolve whole cocoon proteins without any breakdown of molecules. The results suggested that it may be possible to separate fibroin and sericin proteins during the dialysis process by using buffered 9 M LiBr solution at pH 5 and 7 to dissolve the whole cocoon proteins. (*: To whom correspondence should be addressed, E-mail: kojikei @affrc.go.jp)