Research article summary (published 3 Apr 1996):

Silk properties determined by gland-specific expression of a spider fibroin gene family.

Full Abstract

Spiders produce a variety of silks that range from Lycra-like elastic fibers to Kevlar-like superfibers. A gene family from the spider Araneus diadematus was found to encode silk-forming proteins (fibroins) with different proportions of amorphous glycine-rich domains and crystal domains built from poly(alanine) and poly(glycine-alanine) repeat motifs. Spiders produce silks of different composition by gland-specific expression of this gene family, which allows for a range of mechanical properties according to the crystal-forming potential of the constituent fibroins. These principles of fiber property control may be important in the development of genetically engineered structural proteins.

Author information

Author/s: Guerette, P A (PA); Ginzinger, D G (DG); Weber, B H (BH); Gosline, J M (JM);

Affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1996-Apr; vol 272 (issue 5258) : pp 112-5

Dates: Created 1996/04/29; Completed 1996/04/29; Revised 2007/03/19;

PMID: 8600519, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acids - analysis Animals Base Sequence Blotting, Northern Crystallization DNA, Complementary - genetics Exocrine Glands - metabolism Fibroins - chemistry; genetics Gene Expression Regulation

Gene Expression Regulation Gene Library Insect Proteins Molecular Sequence Data Peptides - analysis Proline - analysis Protein Structure, Secondary Proteins - chemistry; genetics Silk Spiders - chemistry; genetics

Associated Chemicals: Amino Acids (0) ; DNA, Complementary (0) ; Insect Proteins (0) ; Peptides (0) ; Proteins (0) ; Silk (0) ; spidroin 1 (0) ; Proline (147-85-3) ; spidroin 2 (147883-43-0) ; polyalanine (25191-17-7) ; poly(alanylglycine) (27879-92-1) ; Fibroins (9007-76-5)

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