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Larval RNA Interference in Silkworm Bombyx mori through Chitosan/dsRNA Nanoparticle Delivery
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Inhibition of apoptosis by a Bombyx mori gene

Eun Jeong Kim1, Won Jong Rhee, Tai Hyun Park

  • 1School of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Kwanak-Gu Shilim-Dong San 56-1, Seoul 151-744, Korea.

Biotechnology Progress
|February 7, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A silkworm protein (30Kc6) inhibits apoptosis by acting upstream of caspase 3 activation. Both intracellular expression and external application of 30Kc6 prevent cell death, offering new insights into apoptosis regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • A previously identified silkworm hemolymph component inhibits apoptosis.
  • This component shares high sequence homology with 30K proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the apoptosis-inhibiting function of the silkworm 30K protein (30Kc6).
  • To determine the mechanism by which 30Kc6 inhibits apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Transfection of mammalian HEK293 and CHOK1 cells with 30Kc6.
  • Assessing apoptosis inhibition via intracellular expression and external supplementation.
  • Measuring intracellular caspase 3 activity.
  • Performing in vitro caspase 3 activity assays.

Main Results:

  • Intracellular expression of 30Kc6 inhibited apoptosis similarly to silkworm hemolymph.
  • 30Kc6 expression led to reduced intracellular caspase 3 activity.
  • In vitro assays demonstrated that 30Kc6 does not directly inhibit caspase 3 activity.

Conclusions:

  • The silkworm 30K protein (30Kc6) effectively inhibits apoptosis.
  • 30Kc6 functions upstream of caspase 3 activation to prevent apoptosis.
  • This suggests a novel mechanism for apoptosis regulation involving 30Kc6.

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