Studies on structure and functions of silkworm proteins

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Insect haemolymph contained a large amount of proteins, which enormously varied with development. Many of these proteins have the same structure as a hexamer of subunits with about 80, 000 dalton, but their functions are different. There are two proteins belonging to a category of storage proteins in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We investigated the structure and function of these storage proteins, arylphorin and larval female-specific protein. 1)Purification methods were improved to obtain a large amount of storage proteins. 2)Nature of storage proteins such as molecular weights of native proteins and subunits, isoelectric point, conjugated components were revealed. 3)Association, dissociation of subunits of storage proteins and agglutination of proteins under various conditions were analyzed. 4)Changes of protein metabolism and role of storage proteins during larval development were examined. 5)Relationship between storage protein concentrations and nutritional conditions of silkworm larvae was investigated.