Guo Kaiyu, Duan Jingmin, Jing Xinyuan, Zhang Xiaolu, Ding Qiao, Dong Zhaoming, Xia Qingyou, Zhao Ping
Biological Science Research Center, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Insect Sci. 2025 Apr 28. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.70047.
The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a major pest of brood combs, and produces large quantities of strong, elastic silk in the environment. However, little research has been conducted on the silk glands (SGs), silk composition and functions of G. mellonella. In this study, we compared the morphologies of the SGs of G. mellonella and Bombyx mori and found that the nuclei of the anterior SGs differ distinctly. We also investigated the protein components and morphology of the G. mellonella cocoon in terms of its multilayer structure. Proteomic analyses identified 158 secretory proteins across the various cocoon layers. Fibroin, sericin, seroin and adhesive proteins were the most abundant proteins. The expression patterns of the major silk genes were investigated, and the results revealed the specific expression of P16 and Seroin3 genes in the anterior SG. Scanning electron microscopy and proteomic analyses of the cocoon layers showed that the sericin contents in the outermost and middle layers were significantly higher than that in the innermost layer. We extracted the soluble proteins from the different cocoon layers and evaluated their antimicrobial activities in vitro. Only the outermost cocoon layer showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Mechanical property tests showed that G. mellonella silk was stronger than B. mori silk. Our study provides important information on the composition and properties of G. mellonella cocoon silk, and serves as a basis for future research and use.
大蜡螟（Galleria mellonella）是蜂巢脾的主要害虫，在环境中能产生大量坚韧且有弹性的丝。然而，关于大蜡螟的丝腺、丝的组成及功能的研究较少。在本研究中，我们比较了大蜡螟和家蚕的丝腺形态，发现前丝腺的细胞核有明显差异。我们还从多层结构方面研究了大蜡螟茧的蛋白质成分和形态。蛋白质组学分析鉴定出了各茧层中的158种分泌蛋白。丝素蛋白、丝胶蛋白、丝氨酸蛋白和黏附蛋白是含量最丰富的蛋白质。我们研究了主要丝基因的表达模式，结果显示P16和丝氨酸蛋白3基因在前丝腺中有特异性表达。茧层的扫描电子显微镜和蛋白质组学分析表明，最外层和中间层的丝胶含量显著高于最内层。我们从不同茧层中提取了可溶性蛋白，并在体外评估了它们的抗菌活性。只有最外层茧层对大肠杆菌有抗菌活性。力学性能测试表明，大蜡螟的丝比家蚕的丝更强。我们的研究提供了关于大蜡螟茧丝组成和特性的重要信息，为未来的研究和应用奠定了基础。
