The amino acid sequence in a fraction of the fibroin of Bombyx mori

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Abstract
When an aqueous solution of silk fibroin is acted on by chymotrypsin, a precipitate is formed. The sequence of the amino acid residues in this precipitate was investigated by partial hydrolysis, followed by separation of the products by chromatography and quantitative estimation of their amounts. By use of the specific action of anhydrous phosphoric acid on the seryl linkages, 36% by weight of the precipitate was recovered as a hexapeptide, which was identified as Ser. Gly. Ala. Gly. Ala. Gly. It is suggested, on the basis of the experimental evidence, that the precipitate probably has the formula. Gly. Ala. Gly. Ala. Gly. (Ser. Gly. (Ala. Gly.)n)8. Ser. Gly. Ala. Ala. Gly. Tyr. in which n is usually 2 and always has a mean value of 2, and the Ala. Ala. is either in the introductory, or in the terminal, sequence.
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