An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of producing a protein fiber in which shrinkage at the time of first contact with moisture after production is more reliably suppressed and generation of crimp is also suppressed. A method for producing a protein fiber according to the present invention includes: a pre-shrinking step of shrinking a protein fibril in a relaxed state after drawing and before being wound; a winding step of winding the protein fibril subjected to the pre-shrinking step to obtain a wound product; and a post-shrinking step of shrinking the protein fibril subjected to the winding step in a relaxed state.

Systems and methods for targeted gene modification, targeted insertion, perturbation of gene transcripts, and nucleic acid editing. Novel nucleic acid targeting systems comprise components of CRISPR systems and non-LTR retrotransposon elements.

In some embodiments, a composition is disclosed that includes pure silk fibroin-based protein fragments that are substantially devoid of sericin, wherein the composition has an average weight average molecular weight ranging from about 17 kDa to about 38 kDa, wherein the composition has a polydispersity of between about 1.5 and about 3.0, wherein the composition is substantially homogeneous, wherein the composition between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of inorganic residuals, and wherein the composition includes between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of organic residuals. In some embodiments, a composition is disclosed that includes silk fibroin-based protein fragments and is suitable for use in consumer applications. In some embodiments, a preserved composition is disclosed that includes silk fibroin-based protein fragments. In some embodiments, a method of preserving a solution using silk fibroin-based protein fragments is disclosed.

The invention relates to self-assembling proteins that are capable of being used to deliver cargo proteins to phagocytic cells, and the subsequent delivery and utility of these self-assembling proteins by the phagocytic cells at sites of disease. In particular, the invention relates inter alia to phagocytic cells comprising polyhedrin protein crystals, wherein the crystals themselves encapsulate therapeutic and/or diagnostic proteins. The invention also provides therapies using these cells.

Improved compositions and methods for using modified non-retroviral reverse transcriptase to perform 3′ extension of a nucleic acid, employ non-templated deoxynucleotide addition to a single-stranded nucleic acid and/or synthesis of complementary DNA using non-complementary nucleic acids as primer and template (RNA- or DNA-templated DNA polymerase activity.

A composition is disclosed that includes pure silk fibroin-based protein fragments that are substantially devoid of sericin, wherein the composition has an average weight average molecular weight ranging from about 17 kDa to about 38 kDa, wherein the composition has a polydispersity of between about 1.5 and about 3.0, wherein the composition is substantially homogeneous, wherein the composition between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of inorganic residuals, and wherein the composition includes between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of organic residuals.

An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for imparting a cool touch feeling property and a water-absorbing and quick-drying property. The agent for imparting a cool touch feeling property and a water-absorbing and quick-drying property contains a modified fibroin as an active ingredient.

A method of producing a fibroin protein product includes providing a stock solution of fibroin protein, injecting a first injection solution including a chaotropic salt into the stock solution, injecting a second injection solution including a kosmotropic salt into the stock solution to provide an intermediate solution, and exposing the intermediate solution to a shear force. A method of preparing a stock solution of fibroin protein includes dissolving a silk fiber into a protic solvent to provide a solution including fibroin protein and adding a chaotropic salt to the solution including fibroin protein to provide the stock solution of fibroin protein. A 3D printer includes a first extruder, a closed duct assembly, at least one injection site, a filter assembly, a printer head assembly, and a printer body.

A method is provided for extraction of fine silk fibroin powder from Bombyx mori silk cocoons. The conventional method of silk processing includes dissolution of the degummed silk fibers in some strong salt solutions followed by a dialysis step. The earlier reported strong salt solutions have either associated environment issues or lower dissolution ability for silk. However, the provided method includes degumming silk cocoons, drying and cutting the degummed silk fibers, mixing the fibers with an ionic liquid, stirring the mixture, regeneration of silk from the mixture with the help of an anti-solvent followed by centrifugation, drying the precipitated silk and finally obtaining a fine powder of silk.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.