Abstract: Objective To establish the silk gland bioreactor platform which expresses foreign proteins, and to assess practicality of the foreign proteins. Methods Using human interferon-ω gene as the target gene, silkworm (Bombyx mori) middle silk gland specific gene Ser1 as promoter, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)which expresses specially in the eyes and Nervous system as a reporter, then they are built into the piggyBac -based vector derived from Trichoplusia ni Lepidoptera (Trichoplusia ni) for the silkworm middle silk gland-specific expression vector pBac [ser1-huIFN -ω, 3xp3-EGFP]. We injected the plasmid into post-natal 1-3h of early embryos (P50) and screened positive individuals. By PCR, RT-PCR and other methods for detection of positive individuals, and silk gland total protein was analysed by western blotting and cytotoxicity testing. Results We got the transgenic silkworm individuals, huIFN-ω gene had a high level of transcription in th middle silk gland, the recombinant protein huIFN-ω has a certain anti-proliferative activity. Conclusion The use of the silk gland bioreactor express biologically active protein huIFN-ω is correct and that means the silk gland can be as a “biological factory” to product a large scale and efficient high value-added foreign proteins, it's also supply the theoretical basis for promotion and application the biological products.

Key words: Bombyx mori, Silk gland, Human interferon-ω