and 3National institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science, Tsukuba City, lbaraki 305, Japan SYNOPSISChemical composition and physical properties of silk fibers from Gonometu rufobrunnue, a silkworm belonging to the family Lasiocampidae (order Lepidoptera, class Insecta) have been studied. G. rufobrunnae silk fibroin contains a large amount of glycine and alanine, as well as hydroxyl, acidic, and basic amino acids. The gly/ala ratio is 1.5, similar to that of Bombyx mori silk fibroin. The ratio between polar and nonpolar amino acids is higher than that of either domestic (family Bombycidae) or wild (family Saturniidae) silk fibroins. The sericin is characterized by a large amount of hydroxyl amino acids, mainly serine. The infrared spectrum of G. rufobrunnae silk fibroin showed characteristic absorptions a t 1630, 1530, and 700 cm-' attributed to the / 3 structure and at 1650 and 1540 cm-' due to the random-coil conformation. The birefringence and isotropic refractive index values were 0.027 and 1.559, respectively. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve showed two minor endothermic peaks at 222 and 288"C, together with a major endothermic peak at 344"C, attributed to the decomposition of the fibroin with fi conformation. The fibers exhibited a maximum contraction peak (4.3%) at about 230°C. The dynamic storage modulus (E') exhibited an abrupt drop at 190°C, while the loss modulus ( E " ) curve increased above 185°C with a sharp slope. The surface of degummed G. rufobrunnae silk fibers was very smooth. The shape of the cross section was triangular, round, or roundish shaped. Some fibers were very flat, showing a ribbonlike shape. 0 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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