Collaborative Research: Functional genomics of spider silk synthesis and fiber performance within the Western black widow and among cob-web weaving spiders

合作研究：西方黑寡妇和蛛网蜘蛛中蜘蛛丝合成和纤维性能的功能基因组学

• 批准号: 0951061
• 负责人: Cheryl Hayashi
• 金额: $ 20.07万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-05-01 至 2015-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0951061&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Functional; genomics; spider

Among silk producing organisms, spiders are unparalleled in their reliance on silk and variety of ways they use silk. Most spiders have multiple types of silk glands, with each type synthesizing a task-specific fiber or glue. Previous molecular studies of spider silk evolution and mechanical function have focused almost entirely on the attributes of the main structural proteins (fibroins). However, the spider silk system necessarily includes fibroin as well as non-fibroin genes. Hence, in this research, state-of-the-art genomic methods will be used to identify all the major elements and their relative abundance within the gene repertoires that underlie silk synthesis in cob-web weaving spiders. The functional significance of the gene repertoires will be assessed by relating them to the mechanical properties of the various fiber types produced by three different species. These results will enhance the understanding of how spiders make their high-performance silks. This knowledge is relevant to the biotechnological efforts to mass-produce synthetic spider silk for industrial and medical applications. In terms of educational impact, this research will directly involve undergraduates at a primarily undergraduate institution (Washington & Lee) and a minority-serving institution (UC Riverside) through incorporation into classroom curricula and student research projects. Importantly, the grant will enable undergraduates to travel between the institutions for cross-training and to present at national science conferences, which will let the students eyewitness the collaborative nature of research and career opportunities for professional biologists. Project results will be broadly disseminated by depositing data into genetic databases, publication in scholarly journals, incorporation into press releases, and presentations to school children and the general public.

在产丝生物中，蜘蛛对丝的依赖和使用丝的方式是无与伦比的。 大多数蜘蛛有多种类型的丝腺，每种类型都合成一种特定任务的纤维或胶水。 以前的蜘蛛丝进化和机械功能的分子研究几乎完全集中在主要结构蛋白（丝素）的属性上。 然而，蜘蛛丝系统必然包括丝心蛋白以及非丝心蛋白基因。 因此，在这项研究中，国家的最先进的基因组方法将被用来确定所有的主要元素和它们的相对丰度内的基因库，蜘蛛网编织蜘蛛丝合成的基础。 基因库的功能意义将通过将它们与由三个不同物种产生的各种纤维类型的机械特性相关联来评估。 这些结果将有助于我们更好地理解蜘蛛是如何制造高性能蛛丝的。 这一知识与生物技术努力有关，这些努力是为了大规模生产用于工业和医疗用途的合成蜘蛛丝。 在教育影响方面，这项研究将直接涉及本科生在一个主要的本科院校（华盛顿李）和少数民族服务机构（加州大学滨江）通过纳入课堂课程和学生研究项目。 重要的是，该补助金将使本科生能够在机构之间进行交叉培训，并出席国家科学会议，这将让学生亲眼目睹专业生物学家的研究和职业机会的合作性质。 项目结果将通过将数据存入遗传数据库、在学术期刊上发表、纳入新闻稿以及向学童和公众介绍等方式广泛传播。