Characterization and Scaled-Up Production of Azido-Functionalized Silk Fiber Produced by Transgenic Silkworms with an Expanded Genetic Code

The creation of functional materials from renewable resources has attracted much interest. We previously reported on the genetic code expansion of the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori to functionalize silk fiber with synthetic amino acids such as 4-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzPhe). The azido groups act as selective handles for biorthogonal chemical reactions. Here we report the characterization and scaled-up production of azido-functionalized silk fiber for textile, healthcare, and medical applications. To increase the productivity of azido-functionalized silk fiber, the original transgenic line was hybridized with a high silk-producing strain. The F(1) hybrid produced circa 1.5 times more silk fibroin than the original transgenic line. The incorporation efficiency of AzPhe into silk fibroin was retained after hybridization. The tensile properties of the azido-functionalized silk fiber were equal to those of normal silk fiber. Scaled-up production of the azido-functionalized silk fiber was demonstrated by rearing circa 1000 transgenic silkworms. Differently-colored fluorescent silk fibers were successfully prepared by click chemistry reactions, demonstrating the utility of the azido-functionalized silk fiber for developing silk-based materials with desired functions.