Abstract: To investigate the differential expression of protein components in the newly-hatched male and female larvae of a temperature-sensitive silkworm variety, Xianban, we compared the protein components of the newly-hatched female (black) and male (red) larvae by using two-dimensional electrophoresis technology. The results showed that 269 and 250 protein spots were detected in easily dissolvable proteins from the newly-hatched male and female larvae respectively. Comparison analysis showed that 86.71% of the total protein spots were matched between male and female larvae, and 43 and 25 specific proteins were found in male and female larvae respectively. In uneasily dissolvable proteins from the newly-hatched male and female larvae, 370 and 424 protein spots were detected respectively. Comparison analysis showed that 80.10% of the total protein spots were matched between the two groups, and 52 and 106 specific proteins were found in male and female larvae respectively. The results indicated that the protein components of the newly-hatched larvae of the silkworm variety are different between the male and female.

Key words: Silkworm, newly-hatched larva, protein components, two-dimensional electrophoresis, differential analysis