Qualitative and quantitative differences in proteins expressed in the middle silkglands of male and female silkworm larvae that differ in silk colour were investigated by high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), followed by computer-assisted image analysis. About 1000 protein spots were resolved in both the sexes and most of the proteins ranged from 15 to 70 kDa and pH 4-8. Some proteins displayed higher expression in yellow cocoon, while two proteins were only expressed in female silkworm silkgland tissue through comparison and analysis using the 2-D software. These proteins especially existed in female silkworm middle silkgland tissue of yellow cocoon. Furthermore, these proteins might be involved in the expression of cocoon colour phenotype.
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M. Saad Shahid
saadi.saad@gmail.com