Abstract: Pentameric CRP is produced at a high efficiency by transferring DNA, which encodes monomeric CRP, into a silkworm to thereby construct a transgenic silkworm and then collecting and purifying pentameric CRP that is produced by the transgenic silkworm constructed above.

Abstract: The present inventors produced transgenic silkworms which comprise a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and a DNA encoding a recombinant antibody whose expression is regulated directly or indirectly by the promoter, and which secrete the recombinant antibody into the silk gland. The recombinant antibodies produced from the silk gland of the transgenic silkworms were confirmed to be active.

Abstract: Pentameric CRP is produced at a high efficiency by transferring DNA, which encodes monomeric CRP, into a silkworm to thereby construct a transgenic silkworm and then collecting and purifying pentameric CRP that is produced by the transgenic silkworm constructed above.

Abstract: Pentameric CRP is produced at a high efficiency by transferring DNA, which encodes monomeric CRP, into a silkworm to thereby construct a transgenic silkworm and then collecting and purifying pentameric CRP that is produced by the transgenic silkworm constructed above.

Abstract: Pentameric CRP is produced at a high efficiency by transferring DNA, which encodes monomeric CRP, into a silkworm to thereby construct a transgenic silkworm and then collecting and purifying pentameric CRP that is produced by the transgenic silkworm constructed above.

Abstract: Silkworms which have (i) a DNA encoding a transcriptional regulator operably linked downstream of a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and (ii) a DNA encoding TRACP5 operably linked downstream of a target promoter of the transcriptional regulator were produced. The result showed that active TRACP5b was produced from the silkworms. This means that TRACP5 produced from the silk gland of the silkworms undergoes processing in the silk gland that is similar to the processing taking place at bone resorption sites.

Abstract: Silkworms which have (i) a DNA encoding a transcriptional regulator operably linked downstream of a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and (ii) a DNA encoding TRACP5 operably linked downstream of a target promoter of the transcriptional regulator were produced. The result showed that active TRACP5b was produced from the silkworms. This means that TRACP5 produced from the silk gland of the silkworms undergoes processing in the silk gland that is similar to the processing taking place at bone resorption sites.

Abstract: The present inventors produced transgenic silkworms which comprise a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and a DNA encoding a recombinant antibody whose expression is regulated directly or indirectly by the promoter, and which secrete the recombinant antibody into the silk gland. The recombinant antibodies produced from the silk gland of the transgenic silkworms were confirmed to be active.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetic engineering material for insects that enables a target protein to be purified easily, without requiring the use of recombinant baculovirus, while simultaneously providing a process for producing exogenous protein using that genetic engineering material. A gene recombinant silkworm is obtained by inserting an exogenous protein gene such as a cytokine gene coupled to a promoter that functions in silk glands into a silkworm chromosome. An exogenous protein such as a cytokine is then extracted and purified from the silk glands or cocoon of that silkworm or its offspring. A large amount of exogenous protein can be produced within silk gland cells, outside silk gland cells or in silk thread or a cocoon by inserting an expression gene cassette, in which the DNA sequence of the 3? terminal portion and the DNA sequence of the 5? terminal portion of fibroin H chain gene are fused to the exogenous protein gene, into silk gland cells and so forth.

Abstract: Transgenic silkworms comprising GFP whose expression is regulated by the sericin gene promoter were produced. Observation of the silk glands of the last instar larvae of the silkworms showed fluorescence only in the middle silk glands. GFP was secreted from middle silkgland cells from around the spinning stage, indicating that GFP moved into the gland lumen. Finally, GFP was spun into cocoon filaments, and cocoons containing large amounts of GFP were produced. Thus, by using the promoter region of the sericin gene, recombinant proteins can be produced in the middle silk glands. Furthermore, the recombinant proteins produced in the middle silk glands were readily secreted into the lumen of the middle silk glands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transformed silkworm which has a polynucleotide encoding human collagen within the genomic DNA and produces recombinant human collagen as a part of proteins in the cocoon or the silk gland; a process for producing recombinant human collagen by using this transformed silkworm; and a recombinant vector for use in the generation of the transformed silkworm. Since human collagen is collected from the cocoon discharged by this transformed silkworm or its silk gland, highly pure human collagen can be conveniently obtained in a large amount. Moreover, because the recombinant human collagen produced by the transformed silkworm is safe collagen which is free from any fear of the contamination with pathogens such as viruses or prions and exhibits no antigenicity toward humans. Thus, it can be utilized in various industrial fields including medicines, foods, cosmetics and the like.

Abstract: Transgenic silkworms comprising GFP whose expression is regulated by the sericin gene promoter were produced. Observation of the silk glands of the last instar larvae of the silkworms showed fluorescence only in the middle silk glands. GFP was secreted from middle silkgland cells from around the spinning stage, indicating that GFP moved into the gland lumen. Finally, GFP was spun into cocoon filaments, and cocoons containing large amounts of GFP were produced. Thus, by using the promoter region of the sericin gene, recombinant proteins can be produced in the middle silk glands. Furthermore, the recombinant proteins produced in the middle silk glands were readily secreted into the lumen of the middle silk glands.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetic engineering material for insects that enables a target protein to be purified easily, without requiring the use of recombinant baculovirus, while simultaneously providing a process for producing exogenous protein using that genetic engineering material. A gene recombinant silkworm is obtained by inserting an exogenous protein gene such as a cytokine gene coupled to a promoter that functions in silk glands into a silkworm chromosome. An exogenous protein such as a cytokine is then extracted and purified from the silk glands or cocoon of that silkworm or its offspring. A large amount of exogenous protein can be produced within silk gland cells, outside silk gland cells or in silk thread or a cocoon by inserting an expression gene cassette, in which the DNA sequence of the 3? terminal portion and the DNA sequence of the 5? terminal portion of fibroin H chain gene are fused to the exogenous protein gene, into silk gland cells and so forth.

Abstract: A modular plug includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of terminals, and a signal transmission cable. The dielectric housing has a cable insertion end, a mating end opposite to the cable insertion end, a lower body portion, and an upper lid portion connected to the lower body portion. The lower body portion extends from the cable insertion end to the mating end. The lower body portion has a plurality of terminal grooves formed adjacent to the mating end, and a cable receiving space extending from the cable insertion end adjacent to the terminal grooves. The upper lid portion is operable relative to the lower body portion to expose the cable receiving space. The terminals are inserted into the cable receiving space through the terminal grooves. The signal transmission cable is received in the cable receiving space, and has a plurality of conductive wires that extend adjacent to the terminal grooves, respectively, and that are connected electrically to the terminals.