Proteome analysis of the silkworm (Bombyx mori. L) colleterial gland during different development stages

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, colleterial gland developed very slowly until 2 days before emergence, then markedly enlarged due to the accumulation of a glue-like substances (mainly including 85% water and 11% proteins). However, the No glue (Ng) mutant female moth secreted only very little glue-like substance and laid loose eggs naturally. High-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by computer-assisted analysis, was used to screen the secretory region of colleterial gland protein patterns during different development stages to find quantitative and qualitative difference in protein expression during the pupae and moth stages. More than 700 protein spots were resolved in different developmental stages from the secretory region of the glands and most of the proteins were distributed in the mass range from 30 to 70 kD with pH 4-8. Through comparison and analysis, it was found that 3 proteins were only expressed in the later pupae stage (one or two days before emergence) and moth stage. Furthermore, these proteins were not expressed in the Ng mutant especially actin. There was a great variation of some protein expression volume during the development. Protein spots that changed more than 1.5-fold in expression level (relative to day 9), including 6 spots that were down-regulated and 2 spots that were up-regulated in expression were excised for identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Results indicated that actins that participated or regulated the exocytosis of colleterial gland and other differentially expressed proteins might be related to colleterial gland development or the secretion of a glue-like substance.