RUI: Molecular Characterization of Tubuliform Silk in the Black Widow Spider

蜘蛛生产各种高性能结构纤维，其机械性能在世界上无与伦比-可与现代技术生产的最佳合成纤维相媲美。 为了制造具有模仿天然丝绸特性的合成丝绸，需要完全了解纤维中的分子以及控制其生产的元素。 这些研究将利用多学科的方法来鉴定组装成卵壳丝（也称为管状丝）的丝蛋白序列，以及鉴定调节黑寡妇蜘蛛（Latrodectus hesperus）表达的调节开关。 新的丝基因将使用遗传方法分离，丝蛋白-蛋白相互作用将使用免疫共沉淀和光谱分析，从而获得有关丝纤维结构特性的新信息。 总的来说，这些研究将揭示新的线索，可以实施到表达系统的大规模生产的丝蛋白用于工业用途。该计划的更广泛的影响包括培训研究生，本科生和高中学生在广泛的现代分子技术和应用。 将从入门和高级生物学和化学课程中招募持不同政见者和/或代表性不足的少数民族本科生，通过参与研究获得直接的实验室经验。 当地高中生将通过与美国化学学会的社会推广计划“种子项目”（夏季教育体验）的联系被招募参加暑期实习。 社区参与也是研究和教育经验的一个重要组成部分，因为当地社区的个人通过参与收集蜘蛛了解丝纤维的非凡特性。 该项目产生的数据将在科学期刊、当地高中、报纸和研究会议上传播。 总而言之，该研究项目将提高我们对蜘蛛丝生物学的理解，并为不同教育水平的广泛个人提供丰富的培训。该奖项由MCB的基因和基因组系统和生物分子系统联合资助。

Spiders produce a variety of high performance structural fibers with mechanical properties unmatched in the world - comparable to the best synthetic fibers produced by modern technology. In order to manufacture synthetic silks with properties mimicking natural silks, a complete understanding of the molecules incorporated into the fibers and the elements that control their production is required. These studies will utilize a multidisciplinary approach to identify silk protein sequences assembled into egg case silk (also called tubuliform silk), as well as identify regulatory switches that regulate their expression in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. New silk genes will be isolated using genetic approaches and silk protein-protein interactions will be analyzed using co-immunoprecipitation and spectroscopy, leading to new information about the structural properties of silk fibers. Collectively, these studies will reveal new clues that can be implemented into expression systems for large-scale production of silk proteins for industrial use. Broader impacts of the program include training graduate, undergraduate and high school students in a wide range of modern molecular techniques and applications. Disadvantaged and/or underrepresented minority undergraduate students will be recruited from introductory and advanced biology and chemistry classes, to gain direct laboratory experience through participation in the research. Local high school students will be recruited for summer internships through a connection with the Project SEED (Summer Educational Experience for the Disadvantaged), a social outreach program from the American Chemistry Society. Community involvement also represents a strong component of the research and educational experience, as individuals from the local community learn about the extraordinary properties of the silk fibers through the participation of the collection of the spiders. Data generated by this project will be disseminated in scientific journals, local high schools, newspapers, and research conferences. In summary, the research project will enhance our understanding on spider silk biology and provide rich training for a wide range of individuals at different educational levels.This award is funded jointly by Genes and Genome Systems and Biomolecular Systems in MCB.