Structure and organization of the Bombyx mori sericin 1 gene and of the sericins 1 deduced from the sequence of the Ser 1B cDNA

The sericin 1 primary transcript of the silkworm Bombyx mon Is differentially spliced via a tissue- and developmentally-regulated process. From a middle silk gland cDNA library, we have elucidated the sequence of one of the four mRNAs, the 4.0 kb Ser1B mRNA. Determination of alternative or constitutive exons and intron-exon boundaries allowed us to establish the nine exon-eight intron structure of the Ser1 gene. From these and previous data, it was possible to deduce the sequence of the sericins 1 and to predict the secondary structure and physicochemical properties of the different regions of the proteins. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.