Expression system for production of bioactive compounds, recombinant human adiponectin, in the silk glands of transgenic silkworms

Arch Pharm Res. 2014 May;37(5):645-51. doi: 10.1007/s12272-013-0298-9. Epub 2013 Nov 23.

Abstract

Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to develop a human adiponectin expression system in transgenic silkworm using a human adiponectin expression vector. The silk gland of the silkworm is a highly specialized organ that has the wonderful ability to synthesize and secrete silk protein. To express human adiponectin in the silk gland of transgenic silkworm, targeting vectors pB-A3-adiponectin-IRES-RFP and pB-Ser1-adiponectin-IRES-RFP were constructed and then introduced into the silkworm pupa. The transgenic silkworms were verified by PCR and then generated. The level of adiponectin in the transgenic silkworm was 6-10 ng/50 mg of freeze-dried powder, and western blotting using an antibody against human adiponectin demonstrated a specific band with a molecular weight of 30 kDa in the silkworm. These results showed that human adiponectin introduced into the silkworm genome was expressed successfully on a large-scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / biosynthesis*
  • Adiponectin / chemistry
  • Adiponectin / genetics
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bombyx / genetics
  • Bombyx / metabolism*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis

Substances

  • ADIPOQ protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Recombinant Proteins