Characterization of Transgenic Silk Thread with Spider Dragline Silk Protein

Abstract

This study assessed the characters of transgenic silkworm (C515-SpA1x2, F1-hybrid of C515-SpA1 and C515-SpA2) producing cocoons and silk thread with a spider dragline silk protein component. Comparison to the original race (C515) used for generating the transgenic silkworm and the generated transgenic silkworm strains (C515-SpA1 and C515-SpA2) revealed greater cocoon and cocoon shell weights for C515-SpA1x2. The C515-SpA1x2 cocoon showed a linear filament size decrease from the outer to the inner layer, with slight difference between maximum and minimum filament size. Results show that the C515-SpA1x2 cocoon maintained the character of C515. Compared to C515, the C515-SpA1x2 cocoons exhibited slightly greater average cocoon filament length. Reeling testing revealed no significant difference between C515-SpA1x2 and C515 cocoons, but the former showed better reelability.