<b>Comparative electrophoretic profile of proteins and esterases in healthy silkworm larvae (<i>Bombyx mori</i> Lineu, 1758) and infected with nucleopolyhedrovirus</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i1.8612

Abstract

Total proteins and esterases from silk gland extracts of Bombyx mori silkworm were characterized and compared with electrophoretic profiles of prepared extracts with silkworm glands infected with nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). SDS-PAGE (7%) gels was used for the total proteins, and 10% native PAGE for esterases. In the silk glands extracts of healthy silkworms, it was observed seven protein zones with molecular weight varying between 10 kDa (P1) and 60 kDa (P7). In the infected silkworms, a new zone named P8 (90 kDa) was also detected. Esterases activity at 5th instar larvae underwent changes after the infection with BmNPV, since there was a reduction (EST-6 and EST-7) and an increase (EST-8) in the intensity of the regions of esterases activity, and specificity of EST-9 to β-naphthyl acetate. Those alterations observed in the expression of genes after the infection with the nucleoplyhedrovirus can be used as markers to detect infections in B. mori.

Keywords

• viral infection
• silk gland
• isoenzymes
• SDS-PAGE
• molecular markers