NIRT: Spider Silk Proteins

摘要：蜘蛛使用具有自组装成纤维能力的蛋白质基纳米材料已有4.5亿多年的历史。然而，只是在过去10年里，才出现了对这一进程的基础的理解。来自怀俄明大学、Nexia生物技术公司、博洛尼亚大学和堪萨斯大学的研究人员将合作测试三个基本假设和工程概念。(1)蜘蛛丝中的氨基酸序列基序可用于制造纳米弹簧和自组装弹性材料。(2)单个分子和材料的弹性将与它们所包含的弹性模体的数量成正比。(3)利用不同蜘蛛丝中不同的氨基酸序列基序可以改变材料的弹性模数。蜘蛛丝蛋白的可能应用似乎很广泛。这些分子本身可以在各种基于纳米材料的应用中充当弹簧。如果我们的假设是正确的，我们就可以控制每个蛋白质弹簧的弹性和弹性模数。由于这些纳米材料会自组装成纤维或薄膜，它们可以用于任何应用，而这些丝绸的独特材料特性将是优势所在。用途从人造韧带和肌腱到防护服再到复合材料。

ABSTRACT: Spiders have been using protein-based nano-materials with the ability to self-assemble into fibers for over 450 million years. However, it is only in the past 10 years that an understanding of the basis for this process has emerged. Investigators from the University of Wyoming, Nexia Biotechnologies Inc., the University of Bologna, and the University of Kansas will work together in testing three basic hypotheses and engineering concepts. (1) Amino acid sequence motifs from spider silk can be used to create nano-springs and self-assembling elastic materials. (2) The elasticity of the individual molecules and the materials will be proportional to the number of elastic motifs they contain. (3) The elastic modulus of the materials can be varied by using different amino acid sequence motifs found in various spider silks. Possible applications of the spider silk proteins seem widespread. The molecules themselves can serve as springs in a variety of nano-materials based applications. If our hypotheses are correct we can control the elasticity and elastic modulus of each protein spring. Since these nano-materials will self-assemble into fibers or films they can be used in any application where the unique materials properties of these silks will be of advantage. Uses range from artificial ligaments and tendons to protective clothing to composite materials.