Fibroin-derived protein composition
AssigneeSilk Technologies, Ltd.
InventorsBrian D. LAWRENCE, David W. INFANGER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protein composition derived from silk fibroin, which composition possesses enhanced solubility and stability in aqueous solutions. The primary amino acid sequence of native fibroin is modified in the SDP such that cysteine disulfide bonds between the fibroin heavy and fibroin light protein chains are reduced or eliminated. Additionally, the composition can have a serine content that is reduced by greater than 40% compared to native fibroin protein, and the average molecular weight of the SDP is less than about 100 kDa.
Claims17
A fibroin-derived protein composition prepared by a process comprising heating an aqueous fibroin solution at an elevated pressure, wherein:
- the aqueous fibroin solution comprises lithium bromide at a concentration of at least about 8M, and the aqueous fibroin solution is heated to at least about 105° C. (221° F.) under a pressure of about 10 PSI to about 20 PSI for at least about 20 minutes in the presence of the lithium bromide;
- to provide a protein composition comprising fibroin-derived protein wherein:
- the primary amino acid sequences of the fibroin-derived protein composition differ from native fibroin by at least by at least 4% with respect to the combined amino acid content of serine, glycine, and alanine, based on the combined absolute values of the differences in the content of serine, glycine, and alanine;
- cysteine disulfide bonds between the fibroin heavy and fibroin light protein chains of fibroin are reduced or eliminated;
- the protein composition has a serine content that is reduced by greater than 25% compared to native fibroin protein;
- and
- wherein the average molecular weight of the fibroin-derived protein composition is less than about 100 kDa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.