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Schmuck B, Greco G, Pessatti TB, Sonavane S, Langwallner V, Arndt T, Rising A. Strategies for Making High-Performance Artificial Spider Silk Fibers. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2024; 34:2305040. [PMID: 39355086 PMCID: PMC11440630 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202305040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2024]
Abstract
Artificial spider silk is an attractive material for many technical applications since it is a biobased fiber that can be produced under ambient conditions but still outcompetes synthetic fibers (e.g., Kevlar) in terms of toughness. Industrial use of this material requires bulk-scale production of recombinant spider silk proteins in heterologous host and replication of the pristine fiber's mechanical properties. High molecular weight spider silk proteins can be spun into fibers with impressive mechanical properties, but the production levels are too low to allow commercialization of the material. Small spider silk proteins, on the other hand, can be produced at yields that are compatible with industrial use, but the mechanical properties of such fibers need to be improved. Here, the literature on wet-spinning of artificial spider silk fibers is summarized and analyzed with a focus on mechanical performance. Furthermore, several strategies for how to improve the properties of such fibers, including optimized protein composition, smarter spinning setups, innovative protein engineering, chemical and physical crosslinking as well as the incorporation of nanomaterials in composite fibers, are outlined and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schmuck
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska Institutet, NeoHuddinge14186Sweden
| | - Gabriele Greco
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
| | - Tomas Bohn Pessatti
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
| | - Sumalata Sonavane
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
| | - Viktoria Langwallner
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
| | - Tina Arndt
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska Institutet, NeoHuddinge14186Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesBox 7011Uppsala75007Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska Institutet, NeoHuddinge14186Sweden
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2
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Sonavane S, Hassan S, Chatterjee U, Soler L, Holm L, Mollbrink A, Greco G, Fereydouni N, Vinnere Pettersson O, Bunikis I, Churcher A, Lantz H, Johansson J, Reimegård J, Rising A. Origin, structure, and composition of the spider major ampullate silk fiber revealed by genomics, proteomics, and single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn0597. [PMID: 39141739 PMCID: PMC11323941 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn0597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Spiders produce nature's toughest fiber using renewable components at ambient temperatures and with water as solvent, making it highly interesting to replicate for the materials industry. Despite this, much remains to be understood about the bioprocessing and composition of spider silk fibers. Here, we identify 18 proteins that make up the spiders' strongest silk type, the major ampullate fiber. Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics revealed that the secretory epithelium of the gland harbors six cell types. These cell types are confined to three distinct glandular zones that produce specific combinations of silk proteins. Image analysis of histological sections showed that the secretions from the three zones do not mix, and proteomics analysis revealed that these secretions form layers in the final fiber. Using a multi-omics approach, we provide substantial advancements in the understanding of the structure and function of the major ampullate silk gland as well as of the architecture and composition of the fiber it produces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumalata Sonavane
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sameer Hassan
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Urmimala Chatterjee
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lucile Soler
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Holm
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annelie Mollbrink
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabriele Greco
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Noah Fereydouni
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Olga Vinnere Pettersson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, National Genomics Infrastructure, SciLifeLab, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ignas Bunikis
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, National Genomics Infrastructure, SciLifeLab, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Allison Churcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, NBIS, SciLifeLab, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lantz
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Johan Reimegård
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
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3
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Kryuchkova A, Savin A, Kiseleva A, Dukhinova M, Krivoshapkina E, Krivoshapkin P. Magnetothermal spider silk-based scaffolds for cartilage regeneration. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127246. [PMID: 37797862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Developing biocompatible, magnetically controlled polymers is a multifunctional solution to many surgical complications. By combining nanoparticle technology with the latest advancements in polymer materials science, we created a multicomponent hybrid system comprised of a robust native spider silk-based matrix; a Mn0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles coating to provide a controlled thermal trigger for drug release; and liposomes, which act as drug carriers. Fluorescent microscope images show that the dye loaded into the liposomes is released when the system is exposed to an alternating magnetic field due to heating of ferromagnetic nanoparticles, which had a low Curie temperature (40-46°С). The silk matrix also demonstrated outstanding biocompatibility, creating a favorable environment for human postnatal fibroblast cell adhesion, and paving the way for their directed growth. This paper describes a complex approach to cartilage regeneration by developing a spider silk-based scaffold with anatomical mechanical properties for controlled drug delivery in a multifunctional autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Kryuchkova
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Artemii Savin
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Aleksandra Kiseleva
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Marina Dukhinova
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Krivoshapkina
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel Krivoshapkin
- ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg 191002, Russian Federation.
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4
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Sonavane S, Westermark P, Rising A, Holm L. Regionalization of cell types in silk glands of Larinioides sclopetarius suggest that spider silk fibers are complex layered structures. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22273. [PMID: 38097700 PMCID: PMC10721825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to produce artificial silk fibers with properties that match the native spider silk we likely need to closely mimic the spinning process as well as fiber architecture and composition. To increase our understanding of the structure and function of the different silk glands of the orb weaver Larinioides sclopetarius, we used resin sections for detailed morphology, paraffin embedded sections for a variety of different histological stainings, and a histochemical method for localization of carbonic anhydrase activity. Our results show that all silk glands, except the tubuliform glands, are composed of two or more columnar epithelial cell types, some of which have not been described previously. We observed distinct regionalization of the cell types indicating sequential addition of secretory products during silk formation. This means that the major ampullate, minor ampullate, aciniform type II, and piriform silk fibers most likely are layered and that each layer has a specific composition. Furthermore, a substance that stains positive for polysaccharides may be added to the silk in all glands except in the type I aciniform glands. Active carbonic anhydrase was found in all silk glands and/or ducts except in the type I aciniform and tubuliform glands, with the strongest staining in aggregate glands and their ductal nodules. Carbonic anhydrase plays an important role in the generation of a pH gradient in the major ampullate glands, and our results suggest that some other glands may also harbor pH gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumalata Sonavane
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lena Holm
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
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5
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Trossmann VT, Lentz S, Scheibel T. Factors Influencing Properties of Spider Silk Coatings and Their Interactions within a Biological Environment. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:434. [PMID: 37623678 PMCID: PMC10455157 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14080434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials are an indispensable part of biomedical research. However, although many materials display suitable application-specific properties, they provide only poor biocompatibility when implanted into a human/animal body leading to inflammation and rejection reactions. Coatings made of spider silk proteins are promising alternatives for various applications since they are biocompatible, non-toxic and anti-inflammatory. Nevertheless, the biological response toward a spider silk coating cannot be generalized. The properties of spider silk coatings are influenced by many factors, including silk source, solvent, the substrate to be coated, pre- and post-treatments and the processing technique. All these factors consequently affect the biological response of the environment and the putative application of the appropriate silk coating. Here, we summarize recently identified factors to be considered before spider silk processing as well as physicochemical characterization methods. Furthermore, we highlight important results of biological evaluations to emphasize the importance of adjustability and adaption to a specific application. Finally, we provide an experimental matrix of parameters to be considered for a specific application and a guided biological response as exemplarily tested with two different fibroblast cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa T. Trossmann
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
| | - Sarah Lentz
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
- Bayreuth Center for Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Materials Center (BayMAT), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
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6
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Rising A, Harrington MJ. Biological Materials Processing: Time-Tested Tricks for Sustainable Fiber Fabrication. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2155-2199. [PMID: 36508546 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve the sustainability of the materials we produce and use. Here, we explore what humans can learn from nature about how to sustainably fabricate polymeric fibers with excellent material properties by reviewing the physical and chemical aspects of materials processing distilled from diverse model systems, including spider silk, mussel byssus, velvet worm slime, hagfish slime, and mistletoe viscin. We identify common and divergent strategies, highlighting the potential for bioinspired design and technology transfer. Despite the diversity of the biopolymeric fibers surveyed, we identify several common strategies across multiple systems, including: (1) use of stimuli-responsive biomolecular building blocks, (2) use of concentrated fluid precursor phases (e.g., coacervates and liquid crystals) stored under controlled chemical conditions, and (3) use of chemical (pH, salt concentration, redox chemistry) and physical (mechanical shear, extensional flow) stimuli to trigger the transition from fluid precursor to solid material. Importantly, because these materials largely form and function outside of the body of the organisms, these principles can more easily be transferred for bioinspired design in synthetic systems. We end the review by discussing ongoing efforts and challenges to mimic biological model systems, with a particular focus on artificial spider silks and mussel-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 141 52, Sweden.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
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7
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Hu W, Jia A, Ma S, Zhang G, Wei Z, Lu F, Luo Y, Zhang Z, Sun J, Yang T, Xia T, Li Q, Yao T, Zheng J, Jiang Z, Xu Z, Xia Q, Wang Y. A molecular atlas reveals the tri-sectional spinning mechanism of spider dragline silk. Nat Commun 2023; 14:837. [PMID: 36792670 PMCID: PMC9932165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36545-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of natural silk production in the spider major ampullate (Ma) gland endows dragline silk with extraordinary mechanical properties and the potential for biomimetic applications. However, the precise genetic roles of the Ma gland during this process remain unknown. Here, we performed a systematic molecular atlas of dragline silk production through a high-quality genome assembly for the golden orb-weaving spider Trichonephila clavata and a multiomics approach to defining the Ma gland tri-sectional architecture: Tail, Sac, and Duct. We uncovered a hierarchical biosynthesis of spidroins, organic acids, lipids, and chitin in the sectionalized Ma gland dedicated to fine silk constitution. The ordered secretion of spidroins was achieved by the synergetic regulation of epigenetic and ceRNA signatures for genomic group-distributed spidroin genes. Single-cellular and spatial RNA profiling identified ten cell types with partitioned functional division determining the tri-sectional organization of the Ma gland. Convergence analysis and genetic manipulation further validated that this tri-sectional architecture of the silk gland was analogous across Arthropoda and inextricably linked with silk formation. Collectively, our study provides multidimensional data that significantly expand the knowledge of spider dragline silk generation and ultimately benefit innovation in spider-inspired fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Anqiang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Sanyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guoqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Fang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yongjiang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhisheng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiahe Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Tianfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - TingTing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qinhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ting Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiangyu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zijie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zehui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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8
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Lv B, Peng Y, Peng YD, Wang Z, Song QS. Integrated transcriptome and proteome unveiled distinct toxicological effects of long-term cadmium pollution on the silk glands of Pardosa pseudoannulata. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 854:158841. [PMID: 36116647 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) induces severe soil pollution worldwide and exerts adverse effects on paddy field arthropods. Spiders grant a novel perspective to assess the Cd-induced toxicity, yet the impacts of long-term Cd stress on spider silk glands and its underlying mechanism remain elusive. The study showed that Cd stress enervated the antioxidant system in the spider Pardosa pseudoannulata, manifested as the decreases of glutathione peroxidase and peroxidase, and the increase of malonaldehyde (p < 0.05). In addition, a total of 1459 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 404 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained from the silk glands' transcriptome and proteome. DEGs and DEPs encoding spidroin (e.g., tubuliform spidroin and ampullate spidroin) and amino acids metabolism (e.g., alanine, proline, and glycine) were distinctively down-regulated. Further enrichment analysis verified that Cd stress could inhibit amino acid metabolism via the down-regulation of several key enzymes, including glutathione synthase, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, S-adenosylmethionine synthetase, etc. In addition, the hedgehog signaling pathway regulating cellular growth and development was down-regulated under Cd stress. A protein-protein interaction network showed that long-term Cd stress could inhibit some key biological processes in the silk glands, including peptide biosynthetic process and cytoskeleton part. Collectively, this comprehensive study established an effective animal detection model for evaluating Cd-induced toxicity, presented key biomarkers for further validation, and provided novel insights to investigate the molecular mechanisms of spiders to Cd pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lv
- College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410006, Hunan, China; Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, 65211 Columbia, USA
| | - Yong Peng
- College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410006, Hunan, China
| | - Yuan-de Peng
- Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, Hunan, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410006, Hunan, China.
| | - Qi-Sheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, 65211 Columbia, USA.
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9
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Bergmann F, Stadlmayr S, Millesi F, Zeitlinger M, Naghilou A, Radtke C. The properties of native Trichonephila dragline silk and its biomedical applications. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 140:213089. [PMID: 36037764 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk has fascinated mankind for millennia, but it is only in recent decades that scientific research has begun to unravel all its characteristics and applications. The uniqueness of spider silk resides in its versatility, in which a combination of high strength and extensibility results in extraordinary toughness, superior to almost all natural and man-made fibers. Dragline silk consists of proteins with highly repetitive amino acid sequences, which have been correlated with specific secondary structures responsible for its physical properties. The native fiber also shows high cytocompatibility coupled with low immunogenicity, making it a promising natural biomaterial for numerous biomedical applications. Recently, novel technologies have enabled new insights into the material and biomedical properties of silk. Due to the increasing interest in spider silk, as well as the desire to produce synthetic alternatives, we present an update on the current knowledge of silk fibers produced by the spider genus Trichonephila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Bergmann
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Stadlmayr
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Flavia Millesi
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Zeitlinger
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aida Naghilou
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Christine Radtke
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Arndt T, Jaudzems K, Shilkova O, Francis J, Johansson M, Laity PR, Sahin C, Chatterjee U, Kronqvist N, Barajas-Ledesma E, Kumar R, Chen G, Strömberg R, Abelein A, Langton M, Landreh M, Barth A, Holland C, Johansson J, Rising A. Spidroin N-terminal domain forms amyloid-like fibril based hydrogels and provides a protein immobilization platform. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4695. [PMID: 35970823 PMCID: PMC9378615 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) have multiple potential applications in development of novel biomaterials, but their multimodal and aggregation-prone nature have complicated production and straightforward applications. Here, we report that recombinant miniature spidroins, and importantly also the N-terminal domain (NT) on its own, rapidly form self-supporting and transparent hydrogels at 37 °C. The gelation is caused by NT α-helix to β-sheet conversion and formation of amyloid-like fibrils, and fusion proteins composed of NT and green fluorescent protein or purine nucleoside phosphorylase form hydrogels with intact functions of the fusion moieties. Our findings demonstrate that recombinant NT and fusion proteins give high expression yields and bestow attractive properties to hydrogels, e.g., transparency, cross-linker free gelation and straightforward immobilization of active proteins at high density. Recombinant spider silks are of interest but the multimodal and aggregation-prone nature of them is a limitation. Here, the authors report on a miniature spidroin based on the N-terminal domain which forms a hydrogel at 37 °C which allows for ease of production and fusion protein modification to generate functional biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Arndt
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Olga Shilkova
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Juanita Francis
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Mathias Johansson
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden, Box 7015
| | - Peter R Laity
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Cagla Sahin
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Urmimala Chatterjee
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Edgar Barajas-Ledesma
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Maud Langton
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden, Box 7015
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chris Holland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden. .,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden.
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11
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Šede M, Fridmanis J, Otikovs M, Johansson J, Rising A, Kronqvist N, Jaudzems K. Solution Structure of Tubuliform Spidroin N-Terminal Domain and Implications for pH Dependent Dimerization. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:936887. [PMID: 35775078 PMCID: PMC9237525 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.936887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spidroin N-terminal domain (NT) is responsible for high solubility and pH-dependent assembly of spider silk proteins during storage and fiber formation, respectively. It forms a monomeric five-helix bundle at neutral pH and dimerizes at lowered pH, thereby firmly interconnecting the spidroins. Mechanistic studies with the NTs from major ampullate, minor ampullate, and flagelliform spidroins (MaSp, MiSp, and FlSp) have shown that the pH dependency is conserved between different silk types, although the residues that mediate this process can differ. Here we study the tubuliform spidroin (TuSp) NT from Argiope argentata, which lacks several well conserved residues involved in the dimerization of other NTs. We solve its structure at low pH revealing an antiparallel dimer of two five-α-helix bundles, which contrasts with a previously determined Nephila antipodiana TuSp NT monomer structure. Further, we study a set of mutants and find that the residues participating in the protonation events during dimerization are different from MaSp and MiSp NT. Charge reversal of one of these residues (R117 in TuSp) results in significantly altered electrostatic interactions between monomer subunits. Altogether, the structure and mutant studies suggest that TuSp NT monomers assemble by elimination of intramolecular repulsive charge interactions, which could lead to slight tilting of α-helices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megija Šede
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Jēkabs Fridmanis
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Martins Otikovs
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
- *Correspondence: Kristaps Jaudzems,
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12
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Arndt T, Greco G, Schmuck B, Bunz J, Shilkova O, Francis J, Pugno NM, Jaudzems K, Barth A, Johansson J, Rising A. Engineered Spider Silk Proteins for Biomimetic Spinning of Fibers with Toughness Equal to Dragline Silks. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2022; 32:2200986. [PMID: 36505976 PMCID: PMC9720699 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202200986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is the toughest fiber found in nature, and bulk production of artificial spider silk that matches its mechanical properties remains elusive. Development of miniature spider silk proteins (mini-spidroins) has made large-scale fiber production economically feasible, but the fibers' mechanical properties are inferior to native silk. The spider silk fiber's tensile strength is conferred by poly-alanine stretches that are zipped together by tight side chain packing in β-sheet crystals. Spidroins are secreted so they must be void of long stretches of hydrophobic residues, since such segments get inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. At the same time, hydrophobic residues have high β-strand propensity and can mediate tight inter-β-sheet interactions, features that are attractive for generation of strong artificial silks. Protein production in prokaryotes can circumvent biological laws that spiders, being eukaryotic organisms, must obey, and the authors thus design mini-spidroins that are predicted to more avidly form stronger β-sheets than the wildtype protein. Biomimetic spinning of the engineered mini-spidroins indeed results in fibers with increased tensile strength and two fiber types display toughness equal to native dragline silks. Bioreactor expression and purification result in a protein yield of ≈9 g L-1 which is in line with requirements for economically feasible bulk scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Arndt
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
| | - Gabriele Greco
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & MechanicsDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of TrentoVia Mesiano 77Trento38123Italy
- Department of AnatomyPhysiology and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Benjamin Schmuck
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
- Department of AnatomyPhysiology and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Jessica Bunz
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
- Present address:
Spiber Technologies ABAlbaNova University CenterSE‐10691StockholmSweden
| | - Olga Shilkova
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
| | - Juanita Francis
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
| | - Nicola M Pugno
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & MechanicsDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of TrentoVia Mesiano 77Trento38123Italy
- School of Engineering and Materials SciencesQueen Mary University of LondonMile End RoadLondonE1 4NSUK
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic ChemistryLatvian Institute of Organic SynthesisRigaLV‐1006Latvia
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsThe Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural SciencesStockholm UniversityStockholm10691Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetNeoHuddinge14183Sweden
- Department of AnatomyPhysiology and BiochemistrySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsala75007Sweden
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13
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Schellhaus AK, Xu S, Gierisch ME, Vornberger J, Johansson J, Dantuma NP. A spider silk-derived solubility domain inhibits nuclear and cytosolic protein aggregation in human cells. Commun Biol 2022; 5:505. [PMID: 35618760 PMCID: PMC9135726 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the inherent toxicity of protein aggregates, the propensity of natural, functional amyloidogenic proteins to aggregate must be tightly controlled to avoid negative consequences on cellular viability. The importance of controlled aggregation in biological processes is illustrated by spidroins, which are functional amyloidogenic proteins that form the basis for spider silk. Premature aggregation of spidroins is prevented by the N-terminal NT domain. Here we explored the potential of the engineered, spidroin-based NT* domain in preventing protein aggregation in the intracellular environment of human cells. We show that the NT* domain increases the soluble pool of a reporter protein carrying a ligand-regulatable aggregation domain. Interestingly, the NT* domain prevents the formation of aggregates independent of its position in the aggregation-prone protein. The ability of the NT* domain to inhibit ligand-regulated aggregation was evident both in the cytosolic and nuclear compartments, which are both highly relevant for human disorders linked to non-physiological protein aggregation. We conclude that the spidroin-derived NT* domain has a generic anti-aggregation activity, independent of position or subcellular location, that is also active in human cells and propose that the NT* domain can potentially be exploited in controlling protein aggregation of disease-associated proteins. Spider-silk protein increases the solubility of an aggregation-prone reporter protein, showing potential applications in controlling aggregation of disease-associated proteins by natural solubility domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Katharina Schellhaus
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, S-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, S-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria E Gierisch
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, S-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julia Vornberger
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, S-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, S-14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Nico P Dantuma
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, S-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
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14
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Secondary structure of peptides mimicking the Gly-rich regions of major ampullate spidroin protein 1 and 2. Biophys Chem 2022; 284:106783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Kiseleva A, Nestor G, Östman JR, Kriuchkova A, Savin A, Krivoshapkin P, Krivoshapkina E, Seisenbaeva GA, Kessler VG. Modulating Surface Properties of the Linothele fallax Spider Web by Solvent Treatment. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:4945-4955. [PMID: 34644050 PMCID: PMC8672351 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Linothele fallax (Mello-Leitão) (L. fallax) spider web, a potentially attractive tissue engineering material, was investigated using quantitative peak force measurement atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy both in its natural state and after treatment with solvents of different protein affinities, namely, water, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Native L. fallax silk threads are densely covered by globular objects, which constitute their inseparable parts. Depending on the solvent, treating L. fallax modifies its appearance. In the case of water and ethanol, the changes are minor. In contrast, DMSO practically removes the globules and fuses the threads into dense bands. Moreover, the solvent treatment influences the chemistry of the threads' surface, changing their adhesive and, therefore, biocompatibility and cell adhesion properties. On the other hand, the solvent-treated web materials' contact effect on different types of biological matter differs considerably. Protein-rich matter controls humidity better when wrapped in spider silk treated with more hydrophobic solvents. However, carbohydrate plant materials retain more moisture when wrapped in native spider silk. The extracts produced with the solvents were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques, revealing unsaturated fatty acids as representative adsorbed species, which may explain the mild antibacterial effect of the spider silk. The extracted metabolites were similar for the different solvents, meaning that the globules were not "dissolved" but "fused into" the threads themselves, being supposedly rolled-in knots of the protein chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kiseleva
- Institute
of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Gustav Nestor
- Department
of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, SLU, Box 7015, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Johnny R. Östman
- Department
of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, SLU, Box 7015, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Anastasiia Kriuchkova
- Institute
of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Artemii Savin
- Institute
of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Pavel Krivoshapkin
- Institute
of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Elena Krivoshapkina
- Institute
of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | | | - Vadim G. Kessler
- Department
of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, SLU, Box 7015, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
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16
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Chaw RC, Clarke TH, Arensburger P, Ayoub NA, Hayashi CY. Gene expression profiling reveals candidate genes for defining spider silk gland types. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 135:103594. [PMID: 34052321 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Molecular studies of the secretory glands involved in spider silk production have revealed candidate genes for silk synthesis and a complicated history of spider silk gene evolution. However, differential gene expression profiles of the multiple silk gland types within an individual orb-web weaving spider are lacking. Each of these gland types produces a functionally distinct silk type. Comparison of gene expression among spider silk gland types would provide insight into the genes that define silk glands generally from non-silk gland tissues, and the genes that define silk glands from each other. Here, we perform 3' tag digital gene expression profiling of the seven silk gland types of the silver garden orb weaver Argiope argentata. Five of these gland types produce silks that are non-adhesive fibers, one silk includes both fibers and glue-like adhesives, and one silk is exclusively glue-like. We identify 1275 highly expressed, significantly upregulated, and tissue specific silk gland specific transcripts (SSTs). These SSTs include seven types of spider silk protein encoding genes known as spidroin genes. We find that the fiber-producing major ampullate and minor ampullate silk glands have more similar expression profiles than any other pair of glands. We also find that a subset of the SSTs is enriched for transmembrane transport and oxidoreductases, and that these transcripts highlight differences and similarities among the major ampullate, minor ampullate, and aggregate silk glands. Furthermore, we show that the wet glue-producing aggregate glands have the most unique SSTs, but still share some SSTs with fiber producing glands. Aciniform glands were the only gland type to share a majority of SSTs with other silk gland types, supporting previous hypotheses that duplication of aciniform glands and subsequent divergence of the duplicates gave rise to the multiple silk gland types within an individual spider.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Crystal Chaw
- University of California, Riverside, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, 2710 Life Science Building, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| | - Thomas H Clarke
- Washington and Lee University, Department of Biology, Howe Hall, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA.
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA.
| | - Nadia A Ayoub
- Washington and Lee University, Department of Biology, Howe Hall, Lexington, VA, 24450, USA.
| | - Cheryl Y Hayashi
- University of California, Riverside, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, 2710 Life Science Building, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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17
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Zhao S, Ye X, Wu M, Ruan J, Wang X, Tang X, Zhong B. Recombinant Silk Proteins with Additional Polyalanine Have Excellent Mechanical Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041513. [PMID: 33546270 PMCID: PMC7913374 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper explores the structures of exogenous protein molecules that can effectively improve the mechanical properties of silkworm silk. Several transgenic vectors fused with the silkworm fibroin light chain and type 3 repeats in different multiples of the ampullate dragline silk protein 1 (MaSp1) from black widow spider with different lengths of the polyalanine motifs were constructed for this study. Transgenic silkworms were successfully obtained by piggyBac-mediated microinjection. Molecular detection showed that foreign proteins were successfully secreted and contained within the cocoon shells. According to the prediction of PONDR® VSL2 and PONDR® VL-XT, the type 3 repeats and the polyalanine motif of the MaSp1 protein were amorphous. The results of FTIR analysis showed that the content of β-sheets in the silk of transgenic silkworms engineered with transgenic vectors with additional polyalanine was significantly higher than that of wild-type silkworm silk. Additionally, silk with a higher β-sheet content had better fracture strength and Young’s modulus. The mechanical properties of silk with longer chains of exogenous proteins were improved. In general, our results provide theoretical guidance and technical support for the large-scale production of excellent bionic silk.
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18
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Wen R, Wang K, Meng Q. Characterization of the second type of aciniform spidroin (AcSp2) provides new insight into design for spidroin-based biomaterials. Acta Biomater 2020; 115:210-219. [PMID: 32798722 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Spiders spin a range of silks from different glands for distinct functions, and each silk type exhibits distinct material properties. Silk extruded by the aciniform gland is used for prey wrapping and egg case construction and displays high toughness and extensibility. So far, only the aciniform spidroin 1 (AcSp1) gene which was firstly identified as a silk gene in aciniform gland has been obtained. Here we present the gene sequence for the second type of full-length aciniform silk protein, AcSp2. Analysis of the AcSp2 primary sequence reveals relatively conserved terminal regions and a distinct repetitive sequence relative to AcSp1. A fraction of the gene can be expressed in recombinant systems. Secondary structure analysis of the recombinant AcSp2 protein in solution reveals that the protein adopts mainly an α-helical conformation. Artificial spinning of recombinant AcSp2 demonstrates that the spidroins can be spun into fine fibers which display up to 142% extensibility. The silk fibers are dominated by β-sheet and β-turn secondary structures. Moreover, the mechanical data collected from these synthetic fibers revealed that the mechanical properties are partly correlated with the molecular weights. Overall, our studies enrich our knowledge of spidroin gene family members and provide a new insight into creation of high-performance silk fibers for next generation biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we presented the second type of aciniform silk protein (AcSp2) gene sequence of orb-weaving spider Araneus ventricosus, expanding the spider silk gene family members. The primary structure revealed the central repetitive sequence of the new spidroin gene is distinctly different from other AcSp1 genes. Characterization of the recombinant minispidroin fibers of AcSp2 revealed the mechanical properties are partly correlate with the molecular weights, and the spidroins can be spun into fine fibers which display up to 142% extensibility. Overall, our studies enrich our knowledge of spidroin gene family members and provide a new insight into creation of high-performance silk fibers for next generation biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road 201620, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Kangkang Wang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road 201620, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road 201620, Shanghai 201620, China.
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19
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Shanafelt M, Rabara T, MacArt D, Williams C, Hekman R, Joo H, Tsai J, Vierra C. Structural Characterization of Black Widow Spider Dragline Silk Proteins CRP1 and CRP4. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25143212. [PMID: 32674428 PMCID: PMC7397007 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider dragline silk represents a biomaterial with outstanding mechanical properties, possessing high-tensile strength and toughness. In black widows at least eight different proteins have been identified as constituents of dragline silk. These represent major ampullate spidroins MaSp1, MaSp2, MaSp’, and several low-molecular weight cysteine-rich protein (CRP) family members, including CRP1, CRP2, and CRP4. Molecular modeling predicts that CRPs contain a cystine slipknot motif, but experimental evidence to support this assertion remains to be reported. To advance scientific knowledge regarding CRP function, we recombinantly expressed and purified CRP1 and CRP4 from bacteria and investigated their secondary structure using circular dichroism (CD) under different chemical and physical conditions. We demonstrate by far-UV CD spectroscopy that these proteins contain similar secondary structure, having substantial amounts of random coil conformation, followed by lower levels of beta sheet, alpha helical and beta turn structures. CRPs are thermally and pH stable; however, treatment with reagents that disrupt disulfide bonds impact their structural conformations. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) data also support computational models of CRP1. Taken together, the chemical and thermal stability of CRPs, the cross-linking data, coupled with the structural sensitivity to reducing agents, are experimentally consistent with the supposition CRPs are cystine slipknot proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayla Shanafelt
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
| | - Taylor Rabara
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
| | - Danielle MacArt
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
| | - Caroline Williams
- Institute for Biomedical Science Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Georgia State University, Decatur, GA 30302, USA;
| | - Ryan Hekman
- Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Hyun Joo
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
| | - Jerry Tsai
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
| | - Craig Vierra
- Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA; (M.S.); (T.R.); (D.M.); (H.J.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 209-946-3024
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20
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A marine photosynthetic microbial cell factory as a platform for spider silk production. Commun Biol 2020; 3:357. [PMID: 32641733 PMCID: PMC7343832 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1099-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, purple bacteria and microalgae have attracted great interest as promising platforms for economical and sustainable production of bioenergy, biochemicals, and biopolymers. Here, we demonstrate heterotrophic production of spider dragline silk proteins, major ampullate spidroins (MaSp), in a marine photosynthetic purple bacterium, Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, under both photoheterotrophic and photoautotrophic growth conditions. Spider silk is a biodegradable and biocompatible material with remarkable mechanical properties. R. sulfidophilum grow by utilizing abundant and renewable nonfood bioresources such as seawater, sunlight, and gaseous CO2 and N2, thus making this photosynthetic microbial cell factory a promising green and sustainable production platform for proteins and biopolymers, including spider silks. Foong et al. demonstrate production of spider dragline silk proteins in Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, a marine photosynthetic purple bacterium. This platform generates promise for the sustainable production of valuable biocompounds in photosynthetic organisms.
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21
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Kiseleva AP, Krivoshapkin PV, Krivoshapkina EF. Recent Advances in Development of Functional Spider Silk-Based Hybrid Materials. Front Chem 2020; 8:554. [PMID: 32695749 PMCID: PMC7338834 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Silkworm silk is mainly known as a luxurious textile. Spider silk is an alternative to silkworm silk fibers and has much more outstanding properties. Silk diversity ensures variation in its application in nature and industry. This review aims to provide a critical summary of up-to-date fabrication methods of spider silk-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials. This paper focuses on the relationship between the molecular structure of spider silk and its mechanical properties. Such knowledge is essential for understanding the innate properties of spider silk as it provides insight into the sophisticated assembly processes of silk proteins into the distinct polymers as a basis for novel products. In this context, we describe the development of spider silk-based hybrids using both natural and bioengineered spider silk proteins blended with inorganic nanoparticles. The following topics are also covered: the diversity of spider silk, its composition and architecture, the differences between silkworm silk and spider silk, and the biosynthesis of natural silk. Referencing biochemical data and processes, this paper outlines the existing challenges and future outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena F. Krivoshapkina
- Laboratory of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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22
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Peng CA, Kozubowski L, Marcotte WR. Advances in Plant-Derived Scaffold Proteins. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:122. [PMID: 32161608 PMCID: PMC7052361 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Scaffold proteins form critical biomatrices that support cell adhesion and proliferation for regenerative medicine and drug screening. The increasing demand for such applications urges solutions for cost effective and sustainable supplies of hypoallergenic and biocompatible scaffold proteins. Here, we summarize recent efforts in obtaining plant-derived biosynthetic spider silk analogue and the extracellular matrix protein, collagen. Both proteins are composed of a large number of tandem block repeats, which makes production in bacterial hosts challenging. Furthermore, post-translational modification of collagen is essential for its function which requires co-transformation of multiple copies of human prolyl 4-hydroxylase. We discuss our perspectives on how the GAANTRY system could potentially assist the production of native-sized spider dragline silk proteins and prolyl hydroxylated collagen. The potential of recombinant scaffold proteins in drug delivery and drug discovery is also addressed.
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23
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Garb JE, Haney RA, Schwager EE, Gregorič M, Kuntner M, Agnarsson I, Blackledge TA. The transcriptome of Darwin's bark spider silk glands predicts proteins contributing to dragline silk toughness. Commun Biol 2019; 2:275. [PMID: 31372514 PMCID: PMC6658490 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) produces giant orb webs from dragline silk that can be twice as tough as other silks, making it the toughest biological material. This extreme toughness comes from increased extensibility relative to other draglines. We show C. darwini dragline-producing major ampullate (MA) glands highly express a novel silk gene transcript (MaSp4) encoding a protein that diverges markedly from closely related proteins and contains abundant proline, known to confer silk extensibility, in a unique GPGPQ amino acid motif. This suggests C. darwini evolved distinct proteins that may have increased its dragline's toughness, enabling giant webs. Caerostris darwini's MA spinning ducts also appear unusually long, potentially facilitating alignment of silk proteins into extremely tough fibers. Thus, a suite of novel traits from the level of genes to spinning physiology to silk biomechanics are associated with the unique ecology of Darwin's bark spider, presenting innovative designs for engineering biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. Garb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 198 Riverside Street, Olsen Hall 414, Lowell, MA 01854 USA
| | - Robert A. Haney
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 198 Riverside Street, Olsen Hall 414, Lowell, MA 01854 USA
| | - Evelyn E. Schwager
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 198 Riverside Street, Olsen Hall 414, Lowell, MA 01854 USA
| | - Matjaž Gregorič
- Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological Institute Jovan Hadži ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, P.O. Box 306, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Biological Institute Jovan Hadži ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, P.O. Box 306, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405 USA
| | - Todd A. Blackledge
- Integrated Bioscience Program, Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325 USA
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24
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Nagarajan S, Radhakrishnan S, Kalkura SN, Balme S, Miele P, Bechelany M. Overview of Protein‐Based Biopolymers for Biomedical Application. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201900126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sakthivel Nagarajan
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM–UMR 5635ENSCM, CNRS, University of Montpellier Montpellier 34090 France
| | | | | | - Sebastien Balme
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM–UMR 5635ENSCM, CNRS, University of Montpellier Montpellier 34090 France
| | - Philippe Miele
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM–UMR 5635ENSCM, CNRS, University of Montpellier Montpellier 34090 France
- Institut Universitaire de France MESRI, 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris cedex 05 France
| | - Mikhael Bechelany
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM–UMR 5635ENSCM, CNRS, University of Montpellier Montpellier 34090 France
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25
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Xu L, Weatherbee-Martin N, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Recombinant Silk Fiber Properties Correlate to Prefibrillar Self-Assembly. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1805294. [PMID: 30756524 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201805294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks are desirable materials with mechanical properties superior to most synthetic materials coupled with biodegradability and biocompatibility. In order to replicate natural silk properties using recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) and wet-spinning methods, the focus to date has typically been on modifying protein sequence, protein size, and spinning conditions. Here, an alternative approach is demonstrated. Namely, using the same ≈57 kDa recombinant aciniform silk protein with a consistent wet-spinning protocol, fiber mechanical properties are shown to significantly differ as a function of the solvent used to dissolve the protein at high concentration (the "spinning dope" solution). A fluorinated acid/alcohol/water dope leads to drastic improvement in fibrillar extensibility and, correspondingly, toughness compared to fibers produced using a previously developed fluorinated alcohol/water dope. To understand the underlying cause for these mechanical differences, morphology and structure of the two classes of silk fiber are compared, with features tracing back to dope-state protein structuring and preassembly. Specifically, distinct classes of spidroin nanoparticles appear to form in each dope prior to fiber spinning and these preassembled states are, in turn, linked to fiber morphology, structure, and mechanical properties. Tailoring of dope-state spidroin nanoparticle assembly, thus, appears a promising strategy to modulate fibrillar silk properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Nathan Weatherbee-Martin
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Xiang-Qin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jan K Rainey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
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26
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dos Santos-Pinto JRA, Esteves FG, Sialana FJ, Ferro M, Smidak R, Rares LC, Nussbaumer T, Rattei T, Bilban M, Bacci Júnior M, Palma MS, Lübec G. A proteotranscriptomic study of silk-producing glands from the orb-weaving spiders. Mol Omics 2019; 15:256-270. [DOI: 10.1039/c9mo00087a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A proteotranscriptomic approach provides a biochemical basis for understanding the intricate spinning process and complex structural features of spider silk proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franciele Grego Esteves
- Center of the Study of Social Insects
- Department of Biology
- Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro
- São Paulo State University
- Rio Claro
| | | | - Milene Ferro
- Center of the Study of Social Insects
- Department of Biology
- Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro
- São Paulo State University
- Rio Claro
| | - Roman Smidak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- University of Vienna
- Austria
| | - Lucaciu Calin Rares
- Division of Computational System Biology
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science
- University of Vienna
- 1090 Vienna
- Austria
| | - Thomas Nussbaumer
- Division of Computational System Biology
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science
- University of Vienna
- 1090 Vienna
- Austria
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Division of Computational System Biology
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science
- University of Vienna
- 1090 Vienna
- Austria
| | - Martin Bilban
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Core Facility Genomics
- Medical University of Vienna
- Vienna
- Austria
| | - Maurício Bacci Júnior
- Center of the Study of Social Insects
- Department of Biology
- Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro
- São Paulo State University
- Rio Claro
| | - Mario Sergio Palma
- Center of the Study of Social Insects
- Department of Biology
- Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro
- São Paulo State University
- Rio Claro
| | - Gert Lübec
- Paracelsus Medical University
- A 5020 Salzburg
- Austria
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27
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Nanostructured, Self-Assembled Spider Silk Materials for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1174:187-221. [PMID: 31713200 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9791-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The extraordinary mechanical properties of spider silk fibers result from the interplay of composition, structure and self-assembly of spider silk proteins (spidroins). Genetic approaches enabled the biotechnological production of recombinant spidroins which have been employed to unravel the self-assembly and spinning process. Various processing conditions allowed to explore non-natural morphologies including nanofibrils, particles, capsules, hydrogels, films or foams. Recombinant spider silk proteins and materials made thereof can be utilized for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering or 3D-biomanufacturing.
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28
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Holland C, Numata K, Rnjak‐Kovacina J, Seib FP. The Biomedical Use of Silk: Past, Present, Future. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1800465. [PMID: 30238637 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201800465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 391] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Humans have long appreciated silk for its lustrous appeal and remarkable physical properties, yet as the mysteries of silk are unraveled, it becomes clear that this outstanding biopolymer is more than a high-tech fiber. This progress report provides a critical but detailed insight into the biomedical use of silk. This journey begins with a historical perspective of silk and its uses, including the long-standing desire to reverse engineer silk. Selected silk structure-function relationships are then examined to appreciate past and current silk challenges. From this, biocompatibility and biodegradation are reviewed with a specific focus of silk performance in humans. The current clinical uses of silk (e.g., sutures, surgical meshes, and fabrics) are discussed, as well as clinical trials (e.g., wound healing, tissue engineering) and emerging biomedical applications of silk across selected formats, such as silk solution, films, scaffolds, electrospun materials, hydrogels, and particles. The journey finishes with a look at the roadmap of next-generation recombinant silks, especially the development pipeline of this new industry for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Holland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering The University of Sheffield Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street Sheffield South Yorkshire S1 3JD UK
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science 2‐1 Hirosawa Wako Saitama 351‐0198 Japan
| | - Jelena Rnjak‐Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - F. Philipp Seib
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden Dresden 01069 Germany
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow G4 0RE UK
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29
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Thamm C, DeSimone E, Scheibel T. Characterization of Hydrogels Made of a Novel Spider Silk Protein eMaSp1s and Evaluation for 3D Printing. Macromol Biosci 2017; 17. [PMID: 28805010 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201700141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recombinantly produced spider silk proteins have high potential for bioengineering and various biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Here, the recently described small spider silk protein eMaSp1s is assembled into hydrogels, which can be 3D printed into scaffolds. Further, blending with a recombinantly produced MaSp2 derivative eADF4(C16) alters the mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels. Different spider silk hydrogels also show a distinct recovery after a high shear stress deformation, exhibiting the tunability of their features for selected applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Thamm
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Elise DeSimone
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayreuther Zentrum für Kolloide und Grenzflächen (BZKG), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayerisches Polymerinstitut (BPI), Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayreuther Zentrum für Molekulare Biowissenschaften (BZMB), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Institut für Bio-Makromoleküle (bio-mac), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayreuther Materialzentrum (BayMAT), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
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30
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Benamú M, Lacava M, García LF, Santana M, Fang J, Wang X, Blamires SJ. Nanostructural and mechanical property changes to spider silk as a consequence of insecticide exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 181:241-249. [PMID: 28445817 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are one of the world's most extensively used insecticides, but their sub-lethal influences on non-target and beneficial organisms are not well known. Here we exposed the orb web spider Parawixia audax, which is found on arable lands in Uruguay, to a sub-lethal concentration of the broad spectrum insecticide Geonex (thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin) and monitored their web building. We collected their major ampullate silk and subjected it to tensile tests, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS) analysis, and amino acid composition analysis. Around half of the exposed spiders failed to build webs. Those that built webs produced irregular webs lacking spiral threads. The mechanical properties, nanostructures, and amino acid compositions of the silk were all significantly affected when the spiders were exposed to insecticides. We found that silk proline, glutamine, alanine and glycine compositions differed between treatments, indicating that insecticide exposure induced downregulation of the silk protein MaSp2. The spiders in the control group had stronger, tougher and more extensible silks than those in the insecticide exposed group. Our WAXS analyses showed the amorphous region nanostructures became misaligned in insecticide exposed silks, explaining their greater stiffness. While the insecticide dose we subjected P. audax to was evidently sub-lethal, the changes in silk physicochemical properties and the impairment to web building will indelibly affect their ability to catch prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Benamú
- Centro Universitario de Rivera (Universidad de la República), Rivera, Uruguay; Laboratorio Ecología del Comportamiento (Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariángeles Lacava
- Centro Universitario de Rivera (Universidad de la República), Rivera, Uruguay; Laboratorio Ecología del Comportamiento (Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Luis F García
- Centro Universitario Regional del Este (Universidad de la República) Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Martín Santana
- Laboratorio Ecología del Comportamiento (Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jian Fang
- Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia
| | - Xungai Wang
- Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia
| | - Sean J Blamires
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
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31
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Blamires SJ, Blackledge TA, Tso IM. Physicochemical Property Variation in Spider Silk: Ecology, Evolution, and Synthetic Production. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 62:443-460. [PMID: 27959639 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The unique combination of great stiffness, strength, and extensibility makes spider major ampullate (MA) silk desirable for various biomimetic and synthetic applications. Intensive research on the genetics, biochemistry, and biomechanics of this material has facilitated a thorough understanding of its properties at various levels. Nevertheless, methods such as cloning, recombination, and electrospinning have not successfully produced materials with properties as impressive as those of spider silk. It is nevertheless becoming clear that silk properties are a consequence of whole-organism interactions with the environment in addition to genetic expression, gland biochemistry, and spinning processes. Here we assimilate the research done and assess the techniques used to determine distinct forms of spider silk chemical and physical property variability. We suggest that more research should focus on testing hypotheses that explain spider silk property variations in ecological and evolutionary contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Blamires
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
| | - Todd A Blackledge
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325;
| | - I-Min Tso
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
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32
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Chaw RC, Arensburger P, Clarke TH, Ayoub NA, Hayashi CY. Candidate egg case silk genes for the spider Argiope argentata from differential gene expression analyses. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:757-768. [PMID: 27500384 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Orb-web weaving spiders produce a variety of task-specific silks from specialized silk glands. The genetics underlying the synthesis of specific silk types are largely unknown, and transcriptome analysis could be a powerful approach for identifying candidate genes. However, de novo assembly and expression profiling of silk glands with RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) are problematic because the few known gene transcripts for silk proteins are extremely long and highly repetitive. To identify candidate genes for tubuliform (egg case) silk synthesis by the orb-weaver Argiope argentata (Araneidae), we estimated transcript abundance using two sequencing methods: RNAseq reads from throughout the length of mRNA molecules, and 3' digital gene expression reads from the 3' region of mRNA molecules. Both analyses identified similar sets of genes as differentially expressed when comparing tubuliform and nonsilk gland tissue. However, incompletely assembled silk gene transcripts were identified as differentially expressed because of RNAseq read alignments to highly repetitive regions, confounding interpretation of RNAseq results. Homologues of egg case silk protein (ECP) genes were upregulated in tubuliform glands. This discovery is the first description of ECP homologues in an araneid. We also propose additional candidate genes involved in synthesis of tubuliform or other silk types.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Chaw
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - P Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - T H Clarke
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, USA
| | - N A Ayoub
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, USA
| | - C Y Hayashi
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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33
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Silk Spinning in Silkworms and Spiders. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17081290. [PMID: 27517908 PMCID: PMC5000687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17081290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiders and silkworms spin silks that outcompete the toughness of all natural and manmade fibers. Herein, we compare and contrast the spinning of silk in silkworms and spiders, with the aim of identifying features that are important for fiber formation. Although spiders and silkworms are very distantly related, some features of spinning silk seem to be universal. Both spiders and silkworms produce large silk proteins that are highly repetitive and extremely soluble at high pH, likely due to the globular terminal domains that flank an intermediate repetitive region. The silk proteins are produced and stored at a very high concentration in glands, and then transported along a narrowing tube in which they change conformation in response primarily to a pH gradient generated by carbonic anhydrase and proton pumps, as well as to ions and shear forces. The silk proteins thereby convert from random coil and alpha helical soluble conformations to beta sheet fibers. We suggest that factors that need to be optimized for successful production of artificial silk proteins capable of forming tough fibers include protein solubility, pH sensitivity, and preservation of natively folded proteins throughout the purification and initial spinning processes.
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34
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Dos Santos-Pinto JRA, Garcia AMC, Arcuri HA, Esteves FG, Salles HC, Lubec G, Palma MS. Silkomics: Insight into the Silk Spinning Process of Spiders. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1179-93. [PMID: 26923066 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The proteins from the silk-producing glands were identified using both a bottom-up gel-based proteomic approach as well as from a shotgun proteomic approach. Additionally, the relationship between the functions of identified proteins and the spinning process was studied. A total of 125 proteins were identified in the major ampullate, 101 in the flagelliform, 77 in the aggregate, 75 in the tubuliform, 68 in the minor ampullate, and 23 in aciniform glands. On the basis of the functional classification using Gene Ontology, these proteins were organized into seven different groups according to their general function: (i) web silk proteins-spidroins, (ii) proteins related to the folding/conformation of spidroins, (iii) proteins that protect silk proteins from oxidative stress, (iv) proteins involved in fibrillar preservation of silks in the web, (v) proteins related to ion transport into and out of the glands during silk fiber spinning, (vi) proteins involved in prey capture and pre-digestion, and (vii) housekeeping proteins from all of the glands. Thus, a general mechanism of action for the identified proteins in the silk-producing glands from the Nephila clavipes spider was proposed; the current results also indicate that the webs play an active role in prey capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Roberto Aparecido Dos Santos-Pinto
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil.,Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Ana Maria Caviquioli Garcia
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil
| | - Helen Andrade Arcuri
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil
| | - Franciele Grego Esteves
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil
| | - Heliana Clara Salles
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Mario Sergio Palma
- Center of Study of Social Insects, Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Rio Claro, São Paulo 13500, Brazil
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35
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Brooks AE. The Potential of Silk and Silk-Like Proteins as Natural Mucoadhesive Biopolymers for Controlled Drug Delivery. Front Chem 2015; 3:65. [PMID: 26636069 PMCID: PMC4659904 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2015.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug delivery across mucus membranes is a particularly effective route of administration due to the large surface area. However, the unique environment present at the mucosa necessitates altered drug formulations designed to (1) deliver sensitive biologic molecules, (2) promote intimate contact between the mucosa and the drug, and (3) prolong the drug's local residence time. Thus, the pharmaceutical industry has an interest in drug delivery systems formulated around the use of mucoadhesive polymers. Mucoadhesive polymers, both synthetic and biological, have a history of use in local drug delivery. Prominently featured in the literature are chitosan, alginate, and cellulose derivatives. More recently, silk and silk-like derivatives have been explored for their potential as mucoadhesive polymers. Both silkworms and spiders produce sticky silk-like glue substances, sericin and aggregate silk respectively, that may prove an effective, natural matrix for drug delivery to the mucosa. This mini review will explore the potential of silk and silk-like derivatives as a biocompatible mucoadhesive polymer matrix for local controlled drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Brooks
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University Fargo, ND, USA
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36
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Werner V, Meinel L. From silk spinning in insects and spiders to advanced silk fibroin drug delivery systems. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2015; 97:392-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2015.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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37
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Domigan LJ, Andersson M, Alberti KA, Chesler M, Xu Q, Johansson J, Rising A, Kaplan DL. Carbonic anhydrase generates a pH gradient in Bombyx mori silk glands. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 65:100-6. [PMID: 26365738 PMCID: PMC4628561 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Silk is a protein of interest to both biological and industrial sciences. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, forms this protein into strong threads starting from soluble silk proteins using a number of biochemical and physical cues to allow the transition from liquid to fibrous silk. A pH gradient has been measured along the gland, but the methodology employed was not able to precisely determine the pH at specific regions of interest in the silk gland. Furthermore, the physiological mechanisms responsible for the generation of this pH gradient are unknown. In this study, concentric ion selective microelectrodes were used to determine the luminal pH of B. mori silk glands. A gradient from pH 8.2 to 7.2 was measured in the posterior silk gland, with a pH 7 throughout the middle silk gland, and a gradient from pH 6.8 to 6.2 in the beginning of the anterior silk gland where silk processing into fibers occurs. The small diameter of the most anterior region of the anterior silk gland prevented microelectrode access in this region. Using a histochemical method, the presence of active carbonic anhydrase was identified in the funnel and anterior silk gland of fifth instar larvae. The observed pH gradient collapsed upon addition of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor methazolamide, confirming an essential role for this enzyme in pH regulation in the B. mori silk gland. Plastic embedding of whole silk glands allowed clear visualization of the morphology, including the identification of four distinct epithelial cell types in the gland and allowed correlations between silk gland morphology and silk stages of assembly related to the pH gradient. B. mori silk glands have four different epithelial cell types, one of which produces carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase is necessary for the mechanism that generates an intraluminal pH gradient, which likely regulates the assembly of silk proteins and then the formation of fibers from soluble silk proteins. These new insights into native silk formation may lead to a more efficient production of artificial or regenerated silkworm silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Domigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - M Andersson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - K A Alberti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - M Chesler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Q Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - J Johansson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden; Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - A Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - D L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
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Chaw RC, Correa-Garhwal SM, Clarke TH, Ayoub NA, Hayashi CY. Proteomic Evidence for Components of Spider Silk Synthesis from Black Widow Silk Glands and Fibers. J Proteome Res 2015; 14:4223-31. [PMID: 26302244 PMCID: PMC5075943 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Spider
silk research has largely focused on spidroins, proteins
that are the primary components of spider silk fibers. Although a
number of spidroins have been characterized, other types of proteins
associated with silk synthesis are virtually unknown. Previous analyses
of tissue-specific RNA-seq libraries identified 647 predicted genes
that were differentially expressed in silk glands of the Western black
widow, Latrodectus hesperus. Only ∼5%
of these silk-gland specific transcripts (SSTs) encode spidroins;
although the remaining predicted genes presumably encode other proteins
associated with silk production, this is mostly unverified. Here,
we used proteomic analysis of multiple silk glands and dragline silk
fiber to investigate the translation of the differentially expressed
genes. We find 48 proteins encoded by the differentially expressed
transcripts in L. hesperus major ampullate,
minor ampullate, and tubuliform silk glands and detect 17 SST encoded
proteins in major ampullate silk fibers. The observed proteins include
known silk-related proteins, but most are uncharacterized, with no
annotation. These unannotated proteins likely include novel silk-associated
proteins. Major and minor ampullate glands have the highest overlap
of identified proteins, consistent with their shared, distinctive
ampullate shape and the overlapping functions of major and minor ampullate
silks. Our study substantiates and prioritizes predictions from differential
expression analysis of spider silk gland transcriptomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ro Crystal Chaw
- Department of Biology, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Sandra M Correa-Garhwal
- Department of Biology, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Thomas H Clarke
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University , Lexington, Virginia 24450, United States
| | - Nadia A Ayoub
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University , Lexington, Virginia 24450, United States
| | - Cheryl Y Hayashi
- Department of Biology, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States
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39
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Rising A, Johansson J. Toward spinning artificial spider silk. Nat Chem Biol 2015; 11:309-15. [DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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40
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Andersson M, Chen G, Otikovs M, Landreh M, Nordling K, Kronqvist N, Westermark P, Jörnvall H, Knight S, Ridderstråle Y, Holm L, Meng Q, Jaudzems K, Chesler M, Johansson J, Rising A. Carbonic anhydrase generates CO2 and H+ that drive spider silk formation via opposite effects on the terminal domains. PLoS Biol 2014; 12:e1001921. [PMID: 25093327 PMCID: PMC4122339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk fibers are produced from soluble proteins (spidroins) under ambient conditions in a complex but poorly understood process. Spidroins are highly repetitive in sequence but capped by nonrepetitive N- and C-terminal domains (NT and CT) that are suggested to regulate fiber conversion in similar manners. By using ion selective microelectrodes we found that the pH gradient in the silk gland is much broader than previously known. Surprisingly, the terminal domains respond in opposite ways when pH is decreased from 7 to 5: Urea denaturation and temperature stability assays show that NT dimers get significantly stabilized and then lock the spidroins into multimers, whereas CT on the other hand is destabilized and unfolds into ThT-positive β-sheet amyloid fibrils, which can trigger fiber formation. There is a high carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2) in distal parts of the gland, and a CO2 analogue interacts with buried regions in CT as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Activity staining of histological sections and inhibition experiments reveal that the pH gradient is created by carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase activity emerges in the same region of the gland as the opposite effects on NT and CT stability occur. These synchronous events suggest a novel CO2 and proton-dependent lock and trigger mechanism of spider silk formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Andersson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Martins Otikovs
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Nordling
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Jörnvall
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Knight
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Ridderstråle
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lena Holm
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (J.J.); (Q.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Mitchell Chesler
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
- * E-mail: (J.J.); (Q.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: (J.J.); (Q.M.); (A.R.)
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41
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Rising A. Controlled assembly: a prerequisite for the use of recombinant spider silk in regenerative medicine? Acta Biomater 2014; 10:1627-31. [PMID: 24090990 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent biotechnological progress has enabled the production of spider silk proteins, spidroins, in heterologous hosts. Matrices based on recombinant spidroins support stem cell growth and are well tolerated when implanted in living tissue, thus the material is highly attractive for use in regenerative medicine. However, the matrices made are far from natural silk in terms of mechanical properties and are either spontaneously assembled, which results in heterogeneous products, or spun from harsh solvents with the concomitant risk of harmful remnants in the final products. If we could mimic the spider's aqueous silk spinning process we would likely obtain a material that had reproducible and better characteristics and that more easily could be transferred to clinical practice. Herein, the knowledge of the spiders' silk production system and the prerequisites for artificial spinning and assembly of recombinant proteins are reviewed and discussed in a biomedical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rising
- KI-Alzheimer Disease Research Center, NVS (Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society) Department, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Anatomy Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, Box 575, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
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42
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Garg T, Rath G, Goyal AK. Comprehensive review on additives of topical dosage forms for drug delivery. Drug Deliv 2014; 22:969-987. [PMID: 24456019 DOI: 10.3109/10717544.2013.879355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays the most important role in protecting against pathogen and foreign matter. Three important modes such as topical, regional and transdermal are widely used for delivery of various dosage forms. Among these modes, the topical dosage forms are preferred because it provides local therapeutic activity when applied to the skin or mucous membranes. Additives or pharmaceutical excipients (non-drug component of dosage form) are used as inactive ingredients in dosage form or tools for structuring dosage forms. The main use of topical dosage form additives are controling the extent of absorption, maintaining the viscosity, improving the stability as well as organoleptic property and increasing the bulk of the formulation. The overall goal of this article is to provide the clinician with information related to the topical dosage form additives and their current major applications against various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Garg
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , ISF College of Pharmacy , Moga , Punjab
| | - Goutam Rath
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , ISF College of Pharmacy , Moga , Punjab
| | - Amit K Goyal
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , ISF College of Pharmacy , Moga , Punjab
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