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- Title
Molecular mechanisms of spider silk.
- Authors
Hu, X; Vasanthavada, K; Kohler, K; McNary, S; Moore, A M F; Vierra, C A
- 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.
- Publication
Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 2006, Vol 63, Issue 17, p1986
- ISSN
1420-682X
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00018-006-6090-y