Tubuliform Spider Silk Proteins

本研究的目的是了解管状丝的力学特性及其进化起源。管状丝，用来形成球织蜘蛛的卵壳，在几个重要的方面是独一无二的。首先，它的序列必须与其他圆织蛛丝非常不同，因为它含有非常不同的氨基酸组成。其次，它只在蜘蛛一生中很短的一段时间内产生，就在产卵之前。最后，它的机械性能显示出高抗拉强度，但这与低抗弯曲能力相结合而不断裂。工作计划是：1)四种蜘蛛将从广泛的圆织、衍生圆织和棒状编织蜘蛛中使用。2)收集管状丝纤维进行力学和生物物理测试。3)构建基因组DNA文库和cDNA文库，筛选文库，对阳性克隆进行测序。4)将这些蚕丝蛋白与其他蚕丝蛋白进行比较，以帮助确定蛋白质序列在蚕丝力学性能中的作用以及这种蚕丝的进化路径。这项研究的更广泛的影响涉及到公众和学生。蜘蛛丝代表了从防护服到医疗产品再到复合材料等应用的生物材料生产的独特答案。平均每学期有3-4名本科生和2-3名高中少数民族学生在实验室工作。每年至少有10场关于蜘蛛和蜘蛛丝的演讲在州内的小学和高中团体和服务俱乐部举行。每年为PBS、国家地理、CBS、NBC等多家出版物、电视台和广播电台以及国外的BBC和CBC提供信息、图片和视频剪辑。

The goal of this research is to understand the mechanical properties of tubuliform silk and its evolutionary origin. Tubuliform silk, which is used to form the egg case of orb-weaving spider, is unique in several important ways. First, its sequence must be very different from the other orb-weaving spider silks in that it contains a very different amino acid composition. Second, it is produced only for a short period in the spider's life, just before the eggs are laid. Finally, its mechanical properties show a high tensile strength but this is combined with a low ability to withstand bending without fracture. The work plan is: 1) Four species of spiders from a broad section of the orb-weaving, derived orb-weaving and cob weaving spiders will be used. 2) The tubuliform silk fibers will be collected for mechanical and biophysical testing. 3) Genomic DNA libraries and cDNA libraries will be constructed, these libraries screened, and positive clones sequenced. 4) Comparisons will be made between these silk proteins and other silk proteins to help determine the role the protein sequence plays in mechanical properties and the evolutionary path of this silk. The broader impacts of this research involve both the general public and students. Spider silks represent a unique answer to the production of biomaterials for applications ranging from protective clothing to medical products to composite materials. On average 3-4 undergraduates will work in the laboratory every semester and 2-3 high school minority students every summer. At least10 presentations are given each year on spiders and spider silk to elementary and high school groups and service clubs in the state. Information, pictures and video clips are provide each year for several publications and TV and radio stations including PBS, National Geographic, CBS, NBC, etc as well as a number from outside this country, BBC and CBC.