Molecular mechanisms of spider silk.

Full Abstract

Spiders spin high-performance silks through the expression and assembly of tissue-restricted fibroin proteins. Spider silks are composite protein biopolymers that have complex microstructures. Retrieval of cDNAs and genomic DNAs encoding silk fibroins has revealed an association between the protein sequences and structure-property relationships. However, before spider silks can be subject to genetic engineering for commercial applications, the complete protein sequences and their functions, as well as the details of the spinning mechanism, will require additional progress and collaborative efforts in the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology and material science. Novel approaches to reveal additional molecular constituents embedded in the spider fibers, as well as cloning strategies to manipulate the genes for expression, will continue to be important aspects of spider biology research. Here we summarize the molecular characteristics of the different spider fibroins, the mechanical properties and assembly process of spidroins and the advances in protein expression systems used for recombinant silk production. We also highlight different technical approaches being used to elucidate the molecular constituents of silk fibers.

Author information

Author/s: Hu, X (X); Vasanthavada, K (K); Kohler, K (K); McNary, S (S); Moore, A M F (AM); Vierra, C A (CA);

Affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California 95211, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review

Journal: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS (Cell Mol Life Sci), published in Switzerland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 63 (issue 17) : pp 1986-99

Dates: Created 2006/09/08; Completed 2006/10/19; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16819558, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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