Raman spectroscopic studies of silk fibroin from Bombyx mori
✍ Scribed by P. Monti; G. Freddi; A. Bertoluzza; N. Kasai; M. Tsukada
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1998
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 286 KB
- Volume
- 29
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0377-0486
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✦ Synopsis
This study was focused on the conformational characterization of Bombyx mori silk Ðbroin in Ðlm, Ðber and powder form by means of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. Native and regenerated silk Ðbroin Ðlms prepared by casting dilute silk Ðbroin solutions (AE1% , w/v) display characteristic conformationally sensitive bands at 1660 cm-1 (amide I), in the range 1276-1244 cm-1 (a complex amide III region with multiple detectable maxima) and at 1107 and 938 cm-1. This spectral pattern can be related to a prevalently random coil conformation, with traces of a-helix. Liquid silk, prepared by casting the silk gland content (Ðbroin concentration 20-25% , w/v), shows almost the same wavenumbers in the amide I and III ranges, while di †erences appear below 1000 cm-1, where three bands at 952, 930 and 867 cm-1 increase in intensity. The spectral di †erences between Ðlms and liquid silk are discussed with a view to identifying possible markers for silk I structure, a crystalline modiÐcation of silk Ðbroin. The treatment of both native and regenerated Ðlms with 50% (v/v) methanol solution induces the conformational transition to a b-sheet structure, as demonstrated by the shift of amide I to 1665 cm-1 and the appearance of new maxima at 1262 and 1236 cm-1 (amide III) and at 1084 cm-1. When liquid silk is cast at above 50 ÄC, the prevailing conformation taken by silk Ðbroin is b-sheet, whatever the rate of drying. By comparing the Raman spectra of silk Ðbroin Ðber and powder, both having a b-sheet structure, a di †erence in the tyrosine doublet bands and in the amide I band can be observed. The value of the intensity ratio increases in I 853 /I 830 (R tyr ) the powder while amide I shifts to lower wavenumbers, suggesting that the hydrogen bonds involving the tyrosil residues are weaker in the powder than in the Ðber.
📜 SIMILAR VOLUMES
A new crystalline polymorph of Bombyx mori silk, which forms at the air-water interface, has been characterized. A previous study found this structure to be trigonal, and to be distinctly different than the two previously observed silk crystal structures, silk I and silk II. This new structure was n
Films of regenerated Bombyx mori silk are strongly affected by absorbed moisture, a phenomenon studied here by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Exposure of previously dried films to environments of controlled relative humidity produces test samples of well-defined equilibrium moisture conten