Unusual protein behavior illustrated with silk fibroin.
We investigated the interaction between phospholipid membranes and silk fibroin recovered from the posterior silk gland of the silkworm. Observations of the planar lipid bilayer membrane and electron microscopic observations of liposomes showed that newly constructed silk fibroin, existing in the form of filaments, quickly penetrates phospholipid membranes without bursting them.
Toshima
Yoshiyuki
Y
Insect Biomaterial and Technology Department, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Oowashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan. toshima@affrc.go.jp
D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*
D047011:Silk; D005349:Fibroins