Identification of cocoonase and cocoonase like protein using polyclonal antibody of Antheraea mylitta cocoonase

Cocoonase is a proteolytic enzyme released by silk moths during pupal adult emergence. Without damaging the silk fibroin, this enzyme dissolves the shell of the tasar cocoon by exclusively targeting the protein sericin. Prior to this study, there was no available antibody against Antheraea mylitta cocoonase to identify or screen out similar variants or cocoonase like protein.

In the present study, naturally secreted A. mylitta cocoonase was purified and used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits. The developed polyclonal antibody of cocoonase was purified and its specific interaction with cocoonase was determined using Indirect ELISA. The confirmation of its specificity and immuno-reactivity was evaluated by western blot using native cocoonase of tasar silkworm A. mylitta. The efficacy and specificity of the polyclonal antibody were further verified and confirmed by western blot which was performed to detect ten different ecotypes of A. mylitta cocoonase.

The developed antibody successfully detected the cocoonase of different ecotypes. Thus, in future this antibody can serve as one of the molecular detection method for cocoonase and cocoonase-like proteins.