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Wang K, Pan Q, Li X, Zhao Z, Zan X, Wang C. Dimerization and liquid-liquid phase separation of the nonrepetitive domains of pyriform spidroin 1 controls the pyriform silk formation. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 277:134280. [PMID: 39084421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134280] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Spiders spin high performance silks with diverse mechanical properties for specific biological functions. Of these spider silk types, pyriform silk stands out as a unique combination of wet glue and dry fibers. Investigation of self-assembly process of spider silk proteins is necessary for elucidating the silk formation mechanism. However, the functions of nonrepetitive domains in the silk formation of pyriform spidroins from liquid proteins to solid fibers are still unclear, making it difficult to achieve efficient biomimetic preparations of pyriform silk with good mechanical properties. In this study, we investigate the roles of the N-linker repeat (NLR) and both terminal domains of pyriform spidroin 1 (PySp1) in the silk formation. We demonstrate for the first time that the PySp1 NLR alone is sufficient to self-assemble into high strength fibers. Moreover, we showed that the ability to promote the pyriform silk formation by the addition of the NLR. We also found that the pH-sensitive dimerization property for N-terminal domain and the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) coupled with acidification triggers the self-assembly mediated by the C-terminal domain. Overall, our results provide new insight into the role of nonrepetitive domains in the pyriform silk formation mechanism and the basis for producing new protein-based materials derived from spider pyriform silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Wang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 317099, China
| | - Qixian Pan
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Xue Li
- Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Zhenzhou Zhao
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Xingjie Zan
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
| | - Cheng Wang
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 317099, China.
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De Oliveira DH, Gowda V, Sparrman T, Gustafsson L, Sanches Pires R, Riekel C, Barth A, Lendel C, Hedhammar M. Structural conversion of the spidroin C-terminal domain during assembly of spider silk fibers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4670. [PMID: 38821983 PMCID: PMC11143275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49111-5] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The major ampullate Spidroin 1 (MaSp1) is the main protein of the dragline spider silk. The C-terminal (CT) domain of MaSp1 is crucial for the self-assembly into fibers but the details of how it contributes to the fiber formation remain unsolved. Here we exploit the fact that the CT domain can form silk-like fibers by itself to gain knowledge about this transition. Structural investigations of fibers from recombinantly produced CT domain from E. australis MaSp1 reveal an α-helix to β-sheet transition upon fiber formation and highlight the helix No4 segment as most likely to initiate the structural conversion. This prediction is corroborated by the finding that a peptide corresponding to helix No4 has the ability of pH-induced conversion into β-sheets and self-assembly into nanofibrils. Our results provide structural information about the CT domain in fiber form and clues about its role in triggering the structural conversion of spidroins during fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Hirabae De Oliveira
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vasantha Gowda
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Linnea Gustafsson
- Spiber Technologies AB, Roslagstullsbacken 15, 114 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Christian Riekel
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, B.P. 220, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - My Hedhammar
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Sarr M, Kitoka K, Walsh-White KA, Kaldmäe M, Metlāns R, Tārs K, Mantese A, Shah D, Landreh M, Rising A, Johansson J, Jaudzems K, Kronqvist N. The dimerization mechanism of the N-terminal domain of spider silk proteins is conserved despite extensive sequence divergence. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101913. [PMID: 35398358 PMCID: PMC9097459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The N-terminal (NT) domain of spider silk proteins (spidroins) is crucial for their storage at high concentrations and also regulates silk assembly. NTs from the major ampullate spidroin (MaSp) and the minor ampullate spidroin are monomeric at neutral pH and confer solubility to spidroins, whereas at lower pH, they dimerize to interconnect spidroins in a fiber. This dimerization is known to result from modulation of electrostatic interactions by protonation of well-conserved glutamates, although it is undetermined if this mechanism applies to other spidroin types as well. Here, we determine the solution and crystal structures of the flagelliform spidroin NT, which shares only 35% identity with MaSp NT, and investigate the mechanisms of its dimerization. We show that flagelliform spidroin NT is structurally similar to MaSp NT and that the electrostatic intermolecular interaction between Asp 40 and Lys 65 residues is conserved. However, the protonation events involve a different set of residues than in MaSp, indicating that an overall mechanism of pH-dependent dimerization is conserved but can be mediated by different pathways in different silk types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Médoune Sarr
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristine Kitoka
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, 1006, Latvia
| | - Kellie-Ann Walsh-White
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Margit Kaldmäe
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Rimants Metlāns
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, 1006, Latvia
| | - Kaspar Tārs
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, 1067, Latvia
| | | | - Dipen Shah
- ZoBio BV, J.H. Oortweg 19, 2333CH Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, 1006, Latvia
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
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Ramezaniaghdam M, Nahdi ND, Reski R. Recombinant Spider Silk: Promises and Bottlenecks. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:835637. [PMID: 35350182 PMCID: PMC8957953 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.835637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silk threads have exceptional mechanical properties such as toughness, elasticity and low density, which reach maximum values compared to other fibre materials. They are superior even compared to Kevlar and steel. These extraordinary properties stem from long length and specific protein structures. Spider silk proteins can consist of more than 20,000 amino acids. Polypeptide stretches account for more than 90% of the whole protein, and these domains can be repeated more than a hundred times. Each repeat unit has a specific function resulting in the final properties of the silk. These properties make them attractive for innovative material development for medical or technical products as well as cosmetics. However, with livestock breeding of spiders it is not possible to reach high volumes of silk due to the cannibalistic behaviour of these animals. In order to obtain spider silk proteins (spidroins) on a large scale, recombinant production is attempted in various expression systems such as plants, bacteria, yeasts, insects, silkworms, mammalian cells and animals. For viable large-scale production, cost-effective and efficient production systems are needed. This review describes the different types of spider silk, their proteins and structures and discusses the production of these difficult-to-express proteins in different host organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ramezaniaghdam
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadia D. Nahdi
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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5
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Wang J, Yuan W, Qin R, Fan T, Fan JS, Huang W, Yang D, Lin Z. Self-assembly of tubuliform spidroins driven by hydrophobic interactions among terminal domains. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 166:1141-1148. [PMID: 33157141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spider silk has remarkable physical and biocompatible properties. Investigation of structure-function relationship and self-assembly process of spidroins is necessary for uncovering the mechanism of silk fiber formation. Nevertheless, how the terminal domains initiate self-assembly of soluble tubuliform spidroins to form solid eggcase silk is still not fully understood. Here we investigate the roles of both terminal domains of tubuliform spidroin 1 (TuSp1) in the silk fiber formation. We found that interactions among the terminal domains drive rapid TuSp1 self-assembly and fiber formation, which is insensitive to pH changes from 6.0 to 7.0. These interactions also contribute to the spidroin chain alignment in fiber formation upon shear-force exposure. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis identified eight critical surface-exposed residues involved in hydrophobic interactions among terminal domains. Spidroins with single-point mutations of these residues fail to form intermediate micelle-like structures. The structural docking model indicates that multiple terminal domains of TuSp1 may interact with each other based on hydrophobic interactions and surface complementarity, which may lead to forming the surface of the micelle-like structure. Our results provide new insights into the structural mechanism of eggcase silk formation and the basis for designing and producing novel biomaterials derived from spider eggcase silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxia Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Wensu Yuan
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Ruiqi Qin
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Tiantian Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Jing-Song Fan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - Weidong Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750004, PR China
| | - Daiwen Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhi Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China.
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