1
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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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2
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Ghimire A, Xu L, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. A recombinant chimeric spider pyriform-aciniform silk with highly tunable mechanical performance. Mater Today Bio 2024; 26:101073. [PMID: 38711935 PMCID: PMC11070712 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Spider silks are natural protein-based biomaterials which are renowned for their mechanical properties and hold great promise for applications ranging from high-performance textiles to regenerative medicine. While some spiders can produce several different types of silks, most spider silk types - including pyriform and aciniform silks - are relatively unstudied. Pyriform and aciniform silks have distinct mechanical behavior and physicochemical properties, with materials produced using combinations of these silks currently unexplored. Here, we introduce an engineered chimeric fusion protein consisting of two repeat units of pyriform (Py) silk followed by two repeat units of aciniform (W) silk named Py2W2. This recombinant ∼86.5 kDa protein is amenable to expression and purification from Escherichia coli and exhibits high α-helicity in a fluorinated acid- and alcohol-based solution used to form a dope for wet-spinning. Wet-spinning enables continuous fiber production and post-spin stretching of the wet-spun fibers in air or following submersion in water or ethanol leads to increases in optical anisotropy, consistent with increased molecular alignment along the fiber axis. Mechanical properties of the fibers vary as a function of post-spin stretching condition, with the highest extensibility and strength observed in air-stretched and ethanol-treated fibers, respectively, with mechanics being superior to fibers spun from either constituent protein alone. Notably, the maximum extensibility obtained (∼157 ± 38 %) is of the same magnitude reported for natural flagelliform silks, the class of spider silk most associated with being stretchable. Interestingly, Py2W2 is also water-compatible, unlike its constituent Py2. Fiber-state secondary structure correlates well with the observed mechanical properties, with depleted α-helicity and increased β-sheet content in cases of increased strength. Py2W2 fibers thus provide enhanced materials behavior in terms of their mechanics, tunability, and fiber properties, providing new directions for design and development of biomaterials suitable and tunable for disparate applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupama Ghimire
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Lingling Xu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Xiang-Qin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jan K. Rainey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
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3
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Mi J, Li X, Niu S, Zhou X, Lu Y, Yang Y, Sun Y, Meng Q. High-strength and ultra-tough supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers assembled via specific covalent and reversible hydrogen bonds. Acta Biomater 2024; 176:190-200. [PMID: 38199426 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.004] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Achieving ultra-high tensile strength and exceptional toughness is a longstanding goal for structural materials. However, previous attempts using covalent and non-covalent bonds have failed, leading to the belief that these two properties are mutually exclusive. Consequently, commercial fibers have been forced to compromise between tensile strength and toughness, as seen in the differences between nylon and Kevlar. To address this challenge, we drew inspiration from the disparate tensile strength and toughness of nylon and Kevlar, both of which are polyamide fibers, and developed an innovative approach that combines specific intermolecular disulfide bonds and reversible hydrogen bonds to create ultra-strong and ultra-tough polyamide spider silk fibers. Our resulting Supramolecular polyamide spider silk, which has a maximum molecular weight of 1084 kDa, exhibits high tensile strength (1180 MPa) and extraordinary toughness (433 MJ/m3), surpassing Kevlar's toughness 8-fold. This breakthrough presents a new opportunity for the sustainable development of spider silk as an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic commercial fibers, as spider silk is composed of amino acids. Future research could explore the use of these techniques and fundamental knowledge to develop other super materials in various mechanical fields, with the potential to improve people's lives in many ways. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: • By emulating synthetic commercial fibers such as nylon and polyethylene, we have successfully produced supramolecular-weight polyamide spider silk fibers with a molecular weight of 1084 kDa through a unique covalent bond-mediated linear polymerization reaction of spider silk protein molecules. This greatly surpasses the previous record of a maximum molecular weight of 556 kDa. • We obtained supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers with both high-tensile strength and toughness. The stress at break is 1180 MPa, and the toughness is 8 times that of kevlar, reaching 433 MJ/m3. • Our results challenge the notion that it is impossible to manufacture fibers with both ultra-high tensile strength and ultra-toughness, and provide theoretical guidance for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable structural materials that meet industrial needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Mi
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore,14 Science Drive 4 117543, Singapore
| | - Shiwei Niu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Science and Technology Achievement Incubation Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xingping Zhou
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Yihang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qing Meng
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Xin Jiang 844006, China.
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4
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Yang D, Wang S, Wang K, Zheng S, Zan X, Wen R. Physical Properties of the Second Type of Aciniform Spidroin (AcSp2) from Neoscona theisi Reveal a pH-Dependent Self-Assembly Repetitive Domain. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:6670-6682. [PMID: 38019679 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01194] [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] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Orb-weaving spiders can use an array of specialized silks with diverse mechanical properties and functions for daily survival. Of all spider silk types, aciniform silk is the toughest silk fiber that combines high strength and elasticity. Although aciniform spidroins (AcSp) are the main protein in aciniform silks, their complete genes have rarely been characterized until now. Moreover, the structural and physical properties of AcSp variant proteins within the species are also unclear. Here, we present three full-length AcSp genes (named AcSp1A, AcSp1B, and AcSp2) from the orb-weaving spider Neoscona theisi and investigate the structural and mechanical features of these three AcSp repetitive domains. We demonstrate that all three AcSp proteins have mainly α-helical structural features in neutral solution and high thermal stability. Significantly, the AcSp2 repetitive domain shows a pH-dependent structural transition from α to β conformations and can self-assemble into amyloid fibrils under acidic conditions, which is the first reported AcSp repetitive domain with pH-dependent self-assembly capacity. Compared with the other two AcSp spidroins, AcSp2 demonstrated the lowest expression level in the aciniform gland but had the highest strength for its silk fiber. Collectively, our findings provide new insight into the physical properties of each component of aciniform silk and expand the repertoire of known spidroin sequences for the synthesis of artificial silk materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
| | - Suyang Wang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Kangkang Wang
- Oujiang Laboratory, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325000, China
| | - Shengwu Zheng
- Wenzhou Celecare Medical Instruments Co., Ltd., Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325000, China
| | - Xingjie Zan
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
- Oujiang Laboratory, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325000, China
| | - Rui Wen
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, China
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5
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Qi X, Wang Y, Yu H, Liu R, Leppert A, Zheng Z, Zhong X, Jin Z, Wang H, Li X, Wang X, Landreh M, A Morozova-Roche L, Johansson J, Xiong S, Iashchishyn I, Chen G. Spider Silk Protein Forms Amyloid-Like Nanofibrils through a Non-Nucleation-Dependent Polymerization Mechanism. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304031. [PMID: 37455347 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils-nanoscale fibrillar aggregates with high levels of order-are pathogenic in some today incurable human diseases; however, there are also many physiologically functioning amyloids in nature. The process of amyloid formation is typically nucleation-elongation-dependent, as exemplified by the pathogenic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Spider silk, one of the toughest biomaterials, shares characteristics with amyloid. In this study, it is shown that forming amyloid-like nanofibrils is an inherent property preserved by various spider silk proteins (spidroins). Both spidroins and Aβ capped by spidroin N- and C-terminal domains, can assemble into macroscopic spider silk-like fibers that consist of straight nanofibrils parallel to the fiber axis as observed in native spider silk. While Aβ forms amyloid nanofibrils through a nucleation-dependent pathway and exhibits strong cytotoxicity and seeding effects, spidroins spontaneously and rapidly form amyloid-like nanofibrils via a non-nucleation-dependent polymerization pathway that involves lateral packing of fibrils. Spidroin nanofibrils share amyloid-like properties but lack strong cytotoxicity and the ability to self-seed or cross-seed human amyloidogenic peptides. These results suggest that spidroins´ unique primary structures have evolved to allow functional properties of amyloid, and at the same time direct their fibrillization pathways to avoid formation of cytotoxic intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingmei Qi
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hairui Yu
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ruifang Liu
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, 17165, Sweden
| | - Zihan Zheng
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, 14152, Sweden
| | - Zhen Jin
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Han Wang
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiuzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, 17165, Sweden
| | | | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
| | - Sidong Xiong
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Igor Iashchishyn
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
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6
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Greco G, Schmuck B, Jalali SK, Pugno NM, Rising A. Influence of experimental methods on the mechanical properties of silk fibers: A systematic literature review and future road map. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:031301. [PMID: 38510706 PMCID: PMC10903380 DOI: 10.1063/5.0155552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Spider silk fibers are of scientific and industrial interest because of their extraordinary mechanical properties. These properties are normally determined by tensile tests, but the values obtained are dependent on the morphology of the fibers, the test conditions, and the methods by which stress and strain are calculated. Because of this, results from many studies are not directly comparable, which has led to widespread misconceptions in the field. Here, we critically review most of the reports from the past 50 years on spider silk mechanical performance and use artificial spider silk and native silks as models to highlight the effect that different experimental setups have on the fibers' mechanical properties. The results clearly illustrate the importance of carefully evaluating the tensile test methods when comparing the results from different studies. Finally, we suggest a protocol for how to perform tensile tests on silk and biobased fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - S. K. Jalali
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | | | - Anna Rising
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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7
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Fan R, Hakanpää J, Elfving K, Taberman H, Linder MB, Aranko AS. Biomolecular Click Reactions Using a Minimal pH-Activated Catcher/Tag Pair for Producing Native-Sized Spider-Silk Proteins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202216371. [PMID: 36695475 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202216371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A type of protein/peptide pair known as Catcher/Tag pair spontaneously forms an intermolecular isopeptide bond which can be applied for biomolecular click reactions. Covalent protein conjugation using Catcher/Tag pairs has turned out to be a valuable tool in biotechnology and biomedicines, but it is essential to increase the current toolbox of orthogonal Catcher/Tag pairs to expand the range of applications further, for example, for controlled multiple-fragment ligation. We report here the engineering of novel Catcher/Tag pairs for protein ligation, aided by a crystal structure of a minimal CnaB domain from Lactobacillus plantarum. We show that a newly engineered pair, called SilkCatcher/Tag enables efficient pH-inducible protein ligation in addition to being compatible with the widely used SpyCatcher/Tag pair. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the SilkCatcher/Tag pair in the production of native-sized highly repetitive spider-silk-like proteins with >90 % purity, which is not possible by traditional recombinant production methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxia Fan
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Johanna Hakanpää
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karoliina Elfving
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Helena Taberman
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - A Sesilja Aranko
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
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8
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Li X, Qi X, Cai YM, Sun Y, Wen R, Zhang R, Johansson J, Meng Q, Chen G. Customized Flagelliform Spidroins Form Spider Silk-like Fibers at pH 8.0 with Outstanding Tensile Strength. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 8:119-127. [PMID: 34908395 PMCID: PMC8753598 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spider flagelliform silk shows the best extensibility among various types of silk, but its biomimetic preparation has not been much studied. Herein, five customized flagelliform spidroins (FlSps: S and NTDFl-Sn-CTDFl, n = 1-4), in which the repetitive region (S) and N-/C- terminal domains (NTDFl and CTDFl) are from the same spidroin and spider species, were produced recombinantly. The recombinant spidroins with terminal domains were able to form silk-like fibers with diameters of ∼5 μm by manual pulling at pH 8.0, where the secondary structure transformation occurred. The silk-like fibers from NTDFl-S4-CTDFl showed the highest tensile strength (∼250 MPa), while those ones with 1-3 S broke at a similar stress (∼180 MPa), suggesting that increasing the amounts of the repetitive region can improve the tensile strength, but a certain threshold might need to be reached. This study shows successful preparation of flagelliform silk-like fibers with good mechanical properties, providing general insights into efficient biomimetic preparations of spider silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China.,Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Xingmei Qi
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu-Ming Cai
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, Hampshire, U.K
| | - Yuan Sun
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
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9
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Bakhshandeh B, Nateghi SS, Gazani MM, Dehghani Z, Mohammadzadeh F. A review on advances in the applications of spider silk in biomedical issues. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 192:258-271. [PMID: 34627845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk, as one of the hardest natural and biocompatible substances with extraordinary strength and flexibility, have become an ideal option in various areas of science and have made their path onto the biomedical industry. Despite its growing popularity, the difficulties in the extraction of silks from spiders and farming them have made it unaffordable and almost impossible for industrial scale. Biotechnology helped production of spider silks recombinantly in different hosts and obtaining diverse morphologies out of them based on different processing and assembly procedures. Herein, the characteristics of these morphologies and their advantages and disadvantages are summarized. A detailed view about applications of recombinant silks in skin regeneration and cartilage, tendon, bone, teeth, cardiovascular, and neural tissues engineering are brought out, where there is a need for strong scaffolds to support cell growth. Likewise, spider silk proteins have applications as conduit constructs, medical sutures, and 3D printer bioinks. Other characteristics of spider silks, such as low immunogenicity, hydrophobicity, homogeneity, and adjustability, have attracted much attention in drug and gene delivery. Finally, the challenges and obstacles ahead for industrializing the production of spider silk proteins in sufficient quantities in biomedicine, along with solutions to overcome these barriers, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Bakhshandeh
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyedeh Saba Nateghi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Maddah Gazani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, College of Science, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Dehghani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, College of Science, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mohammadzadeh
- Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
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10
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Tian LY, Meng Q, Lin Y. Expression and characterization of chimeric spidroins from flagelliform-aciniform repetitive modules. Biopolymers 2020; 111:e23404. [PMID: 33075850 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Spiders can produce up to seven different types of silks or glues with different mechanical properties. Of these, flagelliform (Flag) silk is the most elastic, and aciniform (AcSp1) silk is the toughest. To produce a chimeric spider silk (spidroin) FlagR -AcSp1R , we fused one repetitive module of flagelliform silk from Araneus ventricosus and one repetitive module of aciniform silk from Argiope trifasciata. The recombinant protein expressed in E. coli formed silk-like fibers by manual-drawing. CD analysis showed that the secondary structure of FlagR -AcSp1R spidroin remained stable during the gradual reduction of pH from 7.0 to 5.5. The spectrum of FTIR indicated that the secondary structure of FlagR -AcSp1R changed from α-helix to β-sheet. The conformation change of FlagR -AcSp1R was similar to other spidroins in the fiber formation process. SEM analysis revealed that the mean diameter of the fibers was around 1 ~ 2 μm, and the surface was smooth and uniform. The chimeric fibers exhibited superior toughness (~33.1 MJ/m3 ) and tensile strength (~261.4 MPa). This study provides new insight into design of chimeric spider silks with high mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Yang Tian
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Meng
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Lin
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Kvick M, Tasiopoulos CP, Barth A, Söderberg LD, Lundell F, Hedhammar M. Cyclic Expansion/Compression of the Air-Liquid Interface as a Simple Method to Produce Silk Fibers. Macromol Biosci 2020; 21:e2000227. [PMID: 33016002 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of recombinant spider silk protein at air-liquid interfaces is used as a starting point to produce homogeneous fiber bundles. The film that is formed on a silk protein solution in a vertically placed syringe is subjected to repeated controlled extension and compression by an oscillating vertical motion. Thereby, a precise breakup of the film can be achieved, followed by transport and roll-up against the syringe wall prior to extraction. Advantages of the method are that it 1) is simple to use; 2) requires a small volume of protein solution (1 mL) at relatively low concentration (1 mg mL-1 ); 3) can be performed under sterile conditions; 4) does not require any use of coagulants; and 5) is compatible with the addition of viable cells during the process, which thereby are integrated uniformly throughout the fiber.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christos P Tasiopoulos
- Institute of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Biotechnology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, Sweden
| | - Lars Daniel Söderberg
- Linné FLOW Centre, KTH Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden.,Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Lundell
- Linné FLOW Centre, KTH Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden.,Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - My Hedhammar
- Institute of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Biotechnology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
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12
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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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13
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Novel Highly Soluble Chimeric Recombinant Spidroins with High Yield. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186905. [PMID: 32962298 PMCID: PMC7554824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk has been a hotspot in the study of biomaterials for more than two decades due to its outstanding mechanical properties. Given that spiders cannot be farmed, and their low silk productivity, many attempts have been made to produce recombinant spidroins as an alternative. Herein, we present novel chimeric recombinant spidroins composed of 1 to 4 repetitive units of aciniform spidroin (AcSp) flanked by the nonrepetitive N- and C-terminal domains of the minor ampullate spidroin (MiSp), all from Araneus ventricosus. The spidroins were expressed in the form of inclusion body in E. coli with high yield. Remarkably, the aqueous solubility of the four spidroins ranged from 13.4% to over 50% (m/v). The four spidroins could self-assemble into silk-like fibers by hand-drawing. The secondary structures of these proteins, determined by circular dichroism spectrum (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), indicated a prominent transformation from α-helix to β-sheet after fiber formation. The mechanical properties of the hand-drawn fibers showed a positive correlation with the spidroin molecular weight. In summary, this study describes promising biomaterials for further study and wide application.
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14
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Wang K, Wen R, Meng Q. Properties of two spliceoforms of major ampullate spidroin 1 reveal unique functions of N-linker region. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 157:67-74. [PMID: 32339592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spiders produce diverse silk fibers with distinct properties for daily survival. Among these silk fibers, dragline silk spun by major ampullate gland is used for bridgelines and web radii, exhibiting both outstanding tensile strength and extensibility. Although more and more full-length major ampullate spidroin gene sequences have been reported, the research regarding alternative splicing events of spidroins are rare. Here we describe two spliceoforms of major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) from Araneus ventricosus, and both of them are lack of central repetitive region. The minor isoform only has terminal regions. For the major isoform, however, the N-linker and terminal regions are all retained. Furthermore, we investigated the functions of N-linker structure of A. ventricosus MaSp1, based on the properties of the two spliceoforms. The dimer level of major isoform (MaSp1-2) is higher than that of the minor isoform (MaSp1-1). Moreover, the MaSp1-2 protein display higher melting temperature (Tm) than MaSp1-1, and the MaSp1-2 fibers exhibit higher tensile strength than MaSp1-1 fibers. These studies demonstrate that the N-linker region promotes the formation of intermolecular disulphide bond, suggesting a strategy to enhance the thermostabilization and mechanical properties of spidroins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Wang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Wen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Mu X, Fitzpatrick V, Kaplan DL. From Silk Spinning to 3D Printing: Polymer Manufacturing using Directed Hierarchical Molecular Assembly. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901552. [PMID: 32109007 PMCID: PMC7415583 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Silk spinning offers an evolution-based manufacturing strategy for industrial polymer manufacturing, yet remains largely inaccessible as the manufacturing mechanisms in biological and synthetic systems, especially at the molecular level, are fundamentally different. The appealing characteristics of silk spinning include the sustainable sourcing of the protein material, the all-aqueous processing into fibers, and the unique material properties of silks in various formats. Substantial progress has been made to mimic silk spinning in artificial manufacturing processes, despite the gap between natural and artificial systems. This report emphasizes the universal spinning conditions utilized by both spiders and silkworms to generate silk fibers in nature, as a scientific and technical framework for directing molecular assembly into high-performance structures. The preparation of regenerated silk feedstocks and mimicking native spinning conditions in artificial manufacturing are discussed, as is progress and challenges in fiber spinning and 3D printing of silk-composites. Silk spinning is a biomimetic model for advanced and sustainable artificial polymer manufacturing, offering benefits in biomedical applications for tissue scaffolds and implantable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Mu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Vincent Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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16
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Zhu H, Rising A, Johansson J, Zhang X, Lin Y, Zhang L, Yi T, Mi J, Meng Q. Tensile properties of synthetic pyriform spider silk fibers depend on the number of repetitive units as well as the presence of N- and C-terminal domains. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 154:765-772. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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17
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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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18
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Poddar H, Breitling R, Takano E. Towards engineering and production of artificial spider silk using tools of synthetic biology. ENGINEERING BIOLOGY 2020; 4:1-6. [PMID: 36970229 PMCID: PMC9996717 DOI: 10.1049/enb.2019.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is one of the strongest biomaterials available in nature. Its mechanical properties make it a good candidate for applications in various fields ranging from protective armour to bandages for wound dressing to coatings for medical implants. Spider silk is formed by an intricate arrangement of spidroins, which are extremely large proteins containing long stretches of repeating segments rich in alanine and glycine. A large amount of research has been directed towards harnessing the spectacular potential of spider silks and using them for different applications. The interdisciplinary approach of synthetic biology is an ideal tool to study these spider silk proteins and work towards the engineering and production of synthetic spider silk. This review aims to highlight the recent progress that has been made in the study of spider silk proteins using different branches of synthetic biology. Here, the authors discuss the different computational approaches, directed evolution techniques and various expression platforms that have been tested for the successful production of spider silk. Future challenges facing the field and possible solutions offered by synthetic biology are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hashwardhan Poddar
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM The University of Manchester Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM The University of Manchester Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Eriko Takano
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM The University of Manchester Manchester M1 7DN UK
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19
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Gu L, Jiang Y, Hu J. Scalable Spider-Silk-Like Supertough Fibers using a Pseudoprotein Polymer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1904311. [PMID: 31490597 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201904311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks are tougher than almost all other materials in the world and thus are considered ideal materials by scientists and the industry. Although there have been tremendous attempts to prepare fibers from genetically engineered spider-silk proteins, it is still a very large challenge to artificially produce materials with a very high fracture energy, not to mention the high scaling-up requirements because of the extremely low productivity and high cost levels. Here, a facile spider-silk-mimicking strategy is first reported for preparing scalable supertough fibers using the chemical synthesis route. Supertoughness (≈387 MJ m-3 ), more than twice the reported value of common spider dragline silk and comparable to the value of the toughest spider silk, the aciniform silk of Argiope trifasciata, is achieved by introducing β-sheet crystals and α-helical peptides simultaneously in a pseudoprotein polymer. The process opens up a very promising avenue for obtaining excellent spider fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Gu
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
| | - Yuanzhang Jiang
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Jinlian Hu
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
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20
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Simmons JR, Xu L, Rainey JK. Recombinant Pyriform Silk Fiber Mechanics Are Modulated by Wet-Spinning Conditions. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:4985-4993. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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21
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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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22
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Zheng K, Ling S. De Novo Design of Recombinant Spider Silk Proteins for Material Applications. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1700753. [PMID: 29781251 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks are well known for their superior mechanical properties that are stronger and tougher than steel despite being assembled at close to ambient conditions and using water as the solvent. However, it is a significant challenge to utilize spider silks for practical applications due to their limited sources. Fortunately, genetic engineering techniques offer a promising approach to produce useable amounts of spider silk variants. Starting from these recombinant spider silk proteins, a series of experiments and simulations strategies are developed to improve the recombinant spider silk proteins (RSSP) material design and fabrication with the aim of biomimicking the structure-property-function relationships of spider silks. Accordingly, in this review, the authors first introduce the structure-property-function relationship of spider silks. Then, the recent progress in the genetic synthesis of RSSPs is discussed and their related multiscale self-assembly behaviors is summarized. Finally, the authors outline works utilizing multiscale modeling to assist RSSP material design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zheng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
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23
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Zhou Y, Rising A, Johansson J, Meng Q. Production and Properties of Triple Chimeric Spidroins. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:2825-2833. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yizhong Zhou
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People’s Republic of China
| | - 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
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People’s Republic of China
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24
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Tsuchiya K, Ishii T, Masunaga H, Numata K. Spider dragline silk composite films doped with linear and telechelic polyalanine: Effect of polyalanine on the structure and mechanical properties. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3654. [PMID: 29483536 PMCID: PMC5827030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21970-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider dragline silks have attracted intensive attention as eco-friendly tough materials because of their excellent mechanical property and biomass-based origin. Composite films based on a recombinant spider dragline silk protein (ADF3) from Araneus diadematus were prepared by doping with linear or telechelic poly(L-alanine) (L- or T-polyA, respectively) as a reinforcing agent. Higher tensile strength and toughness of the composite films were achieved with the addition of polyA compared with the tensile strength and toughness of the silk-only film. The difference in the reinforcing behavior between L- and T-polyA was associated with their primary structures, which were revealed by wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis. L-polyA showed a tendency to aggregate in the composite films and induce crystallization of the inherent silk β-sheet to afford rigid but brittle films. By contrast, T-polyA dispersion in the composite films led to the formation of β-sheet crystal of both T-polyA and the inherent silk, which imparted high strength and toughness to the silk films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kousuke Tsuchiya
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Takaoki Ishii
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo, 679-5198, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Enzyme Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
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25
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Xu L, Lefèvre T, Orrell KE, Meng Q, Auger M, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Structural and Mechanical Roles for the C-Terminal Nonrepetitive Domain Become Apparent in Recombinant Spider Aciniform Silk. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:3678-3686. [PMID: 28934550 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Spider aciniform (or wrapping) silk is the toughest of the seven types of spider silks/glue due to a combination of high elasticity and strength. Like most spider silk proteins (spidroins), aciniform spidroin (AcSp1) has a large core repetitive domain flanked by relatively short N- and C-terminal nonrepetitive domains (the NTD and CTD, respectively). The major ampullate silk protein (MaSp) CTD has been shown to control protein solubility and fiber formation, but the aciniform CTD function remains unknown. Here, we compare fiber mechanical properties, solution-state structuring, and fibrous state secondary structural composition, and orientation relative to native aciniform silk for two AcSp1 repeat units with or without fused AcSp1- and MaSp-derived CTDs alongside three AcSp1 repeat units without a CTD. The native AcSp1 CTD uniquely modulated fiber mechanical properties, relative to all other constructs, directly correlating to a native-like structural transformation and alignment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xu
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P.R. China
| | - Thierry Lefèvre
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement Québécois de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (PROTEO), Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés (CERMA) Université Laval , Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | | | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P.R. China
| | - Michèle Auger
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement Québécois de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (PROTEO), Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés (CERMA) Université Laval , Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
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26
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Otikovs M, Andersson M, Jia Q, Nordling K, Meng Q, Andreas LB, Pintacuda G, Johansson J, Rising A, Jaudzems K. Degree of Biomimicry of Artificial Spider Silk Spinning Assessed by NMR Spectroscopy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:12571-12575. [PMID: 28791761 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201706649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetic spinning of artificial spider silk requires that the terminal domains of designed minispidroins undergo specific structural changes in concert with the β-sheet conversion of the repetitive region. Herein, we combine solution and solid-state NMR methods to probe domain-specific structural changes in the NT2RepCT minispidroin, which allows us to assess the degree of biomimicry of artificial silk spinning. In addition, we show that the structural effects of post-spinning procedures can be examined. By studying the impact of NT2RepCT fiber drying, we observed a reversible beta-to-alpha conversion. We think that this approach will be useful for guiding the optimization of artificial spider silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martins Otikovs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006, Riga, Latvia
| | - Marlene Andersson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Qiupin Jia
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Kerstin Nordling
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 141 57, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Loren B Andreas
- Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs, Institut des Sciences Analytiques (UMR 5280-CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), Université de Lyon, 5 rue de la Doua, 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Guido Pintacuda
- Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs, Institut des Sciences Analytiques (UMR 5280-CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), Université de Lyon, 5 rue de la Doua, 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 141 57, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 141 57, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006, Riga, Latvia
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27
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Otikovs M, Andersson M, Jia Q, Nordling K, Meng Q, Andreas LB, Pintacuda G, Johansson J, Rising A, Jaudzems K. Degree of Biomimicry of Artificial Spider Silk Spinning Assessed by NMR Spectroscopy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201706649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martins Otikovs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis Aizkraukles 21 1006 Riga Latvia
| | - Marlene Andersson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Box 7011 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Qiupin Jia
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Donghua University 201620 Shanghai China
| | - Kerstin Nordling
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society (NVS) Center for Alzheimer Research Karolinska Institutet Novum 141 57 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Donghua University 201620 Shanghai China
| | - Loren B. Andreas
- Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs Institut des Sciences Analytiques (UMR 5280-CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1) Université de Lyon 5 rue de la Doua 69100 Villeurbanne France
| | - Guido Pintacuda
- Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs Institut des Sciences Analytiques (UMR 5280-CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1) Université de Lyon 5 rue de la Doua 69100 Villeurbanne France
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society (NVS) Center for Alzheimer Research Karolinska Institutet Novum 141 57 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Box 7011 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society (NVS) Center for Alzheimer Research Karolinska Institutet Novum 141 57 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis Aizkraukles 21 1006 Riga Latvia
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28
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Li X, Shi CH, Tang CL, Cai YM, Meng Q. The correlation between the length of repetitive domain and mechanical properties of the recombinant flagelliform spidroin. Biol Open 2017; 6:333-339. [PMID: 28126711 PMCID: PMC5374401 DOI: 10.1242/bio.022665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is an attractive biopolymer with numerous potential applications due to its remarkable characteristics. Among the six categories of spider silks, flagelliform (Flag) spider silk possesses longer and more repetitive core domains than others, therefore performing the highest extensibility. To investigate the correlation between the recombinant spidroin size and the synthetic fiber properties, four recombinant proteins with different sizes [N-Scn-C (n=1-4)] were constructed and expressed using IMPACT system. Subsequently, different recombinant spidroins were spun into fibers through wet-spinning via a custom-made continuous post-drawing device. Mechanical tests of the synthetic fibers with four parameters (maximum stress, maximum extension, Young's modulus and toughness) demonstrated that the extensibility of the fibers showed a positive correlation with spidroin size, consequently resulting in the extensibility of N-Sc4-C fiber ranked the highest (58.76%) among four fibers. Raman data revealed the relationship between secondary structure content and mechanical properties. The data here provide a deeper insight into the relationship between the function and structure of Flag silk for future design of artificial fibers. Summary: A study of the relationship between the structure and property of synthetic spider silk-like fibers, which aims to aid with the designing of functional artificial fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Hua Shi
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan-Long Tang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Ming Cai
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Meng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China .,Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
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29
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Lin S, Chen G, Liu X, Meng Q. Chimeric spider silk proteins mediated by intein result in artificial hybrid silks. Biopolymers 2017; 105:385-92. [PMID: 26948769 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid silks hold a great potential as specific biomaterials due to its controlled mechanical properties. To produce fibers with tunable properties, here we firstly made chimeric proteins in vitro, called W2C4CT and W2C8CT, with ligation of MaSp repetitive modules (C) with AcSp modules (W) by intein trans splicing technology from smaller precursors without final yield reduction. Intein mediated chimeric proteins form fibers at a low concentration of 0.4 mg/mL in 50 mM K3 PO4 pH 7.5 just drawn by hand. Hybrid fibers show smoother surface, and also have stronger chemical resistance as compared with fibers from W2CT (W fibers) and mixture of W2CT/C8CT (MHF8 fibers). Fibers from chimeric protein W2C4CT (HFH4) have improved mechanical properties than W fibers; however, with more C modules W2C8CT fibers (HFH8) properties decreased, indicates the length proportion of various modules is very important and should be optimized for fibers with specific properties. Generally, hybrid silks generated via chimeric proteins, which can be simplified by intein trans splicing, has greater potential to produce fibers with tunable properties. Our research shows that intein mediated directional protein ligation is a novel way to make large chimeric spider silk proteins and hybrid silks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 385-392, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senzhu Lin
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Gefei Chen
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangqin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
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30
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Biomimetic spinning of artificial spider silk from a chimeric minispidroin. Nat Chem Biol 2017; 13:262-264. [PMID: 28068309 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Herein we present a chimeric recombinant spider silk protein (spidroin) whose aqueous solubility equals that of native spider silk dope and a spinning device that is based solely on aqueous buffers, shear forces and lowered pH. The process recapitulates the complex molecular mechanisms that dictate native spider silk spinning and is highly efficient; spidroin from one liter of bacterial shake-flask culture is enough to spin a kilometer of the hitherto toughest as-spun artificial spider silk fiber.
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31
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Wang R, Sing MK, Avery RK, Souza BS, Kim M, Olsen BD. Classical Challenges in the Physical Chemistry of Polymer Networks and the Design of New Materials. Acc Chem Res 2016; 49:2786-2795. [PMID: 27993006 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Polymer networks are widely used from commodity to biomedical materials. The space-spanning, net-like structure gives polymer networks their advantageous mechanical and dynamic properties, the most essential factor that governs their responses to external electrical, thermal, and chemical stimuli. Despite the ubiquity of applications and a century of active research on these materials, the way that chemistry and processing interact to yield the final structure and the material properties of polymer networks is not fully understood, which leads to a number of classical challenges in the physical chemistry of gels. Fundamentally, it is not yet possible to quantitatively predict the mechanical response of a polymer network based on its chemical design, limiting our ability to understand and characterize the nanostructure of gels and rationally design new materials. In this Account, we summarize our recent theoretical and experimental approaches to study the physical chemistry of polymer networks. First, our understanding of the impact of molecular defects on topology and elasticity of polymer networks is discussed. By systematically incorporating the effects of different orders of loop structure, we develop a kinetic graph theory and real elastic network theory that bridge the chemical design, the network topology, and the mechanical properties of the gel. These theories show good agreement with the recent experimental data without any fitting parameters. Next, associative polymer gel dynamics is discussed, focusing on our evolving understanding of the effect of transient bonds on the mechanical response. Using forced Rayleigh scattering (FRS), we are able to probe diffusivity across a wide range of length and time scales in gels. A superdiffusive region is observed in different associative network systems, which can be captured by a two-state kinetic model. Further, the effects of the architecture and chemistry of polymer chains on gel nanostructure are studied. By incorporating shear-thinning coiled-coil protein motifs into the midblock of a micelle-forming block copolymer, we are able to responsively adjust the gel toughness through controlling the nanostructure. Finally, we review the development of novel application-oriented materials that emerge from our enhanced understanding of gel physical chemistry, including injectable gel hemostats designed to treat internal wounds and engineered nucleoporin-like polypeptide (NLP) hydrogels that act as biologically selective filters. We believe that the fundamental physical chemistry questions articulated in this Account will provide inspiration to fully understand the design of polymer networks, a group of mysterious yet critically important materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bruno S. Souza
- Department
of Chemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
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32
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Biomechanical Design of Elastic Protein Biomaterials: A Balance of Protein Structure and Conformational Disorder. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2016; 3:661-679. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular
Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular
Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department
of Biochemistry and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 1 King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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33
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Wu H, Quan DN, Tsao C, Liu Y, Terrell JL, Luo X, Yang J, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Conferring biological activity to native spider silk: A biofunctionalized protein‐based microfiber. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 114:83-95. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan‐Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and TechnologyNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei CityTaiwan
| | - David N. Quan
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege Park 20742Maryland
| | - Chen‐Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege Park 20742Maryland
| | | | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringCatholic University of AmericaWashingtonDistrict of Columbia
| | - Jen‐Chang Yang
- School of Dental TechnologyTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Gregory F. Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege Park 20742Maryland
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - William E. Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege Park 20742Maryland
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
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34
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Characterizing Aciniform Silk Repetitive Domain Backbone Dynamics and Hydrodynamic Modularity. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17081305. [PMID: 27517921 PMCID: PMC5000702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17081305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider aciniform (wrapping) silk is a remarkable fibrillar biomaterial with outstanding mechanical properties. It is a modular protein consisting, in Argiope trifasciata, of a core repetitive domain of 200 amino acid units (W units). In solution, the W units comprise a globular folded core, with five α-helices, and disordered tails that are linked to form a ~63-residue intrinsically disordered linker in concatemers. Herein, we present nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based 15N spin relaxation analysis, allowing characterization of backbone dynamics as a function of residue on the ps–ns timescale in the context of the single W unit (W1) and the two unit concatemer (W2). Unambiguous mapping of backbone dynamics throughout W2 was made possible by segmental NMR active isotope-enrichment through split intein-mediated trans-splicing. Spectral density mapping for W1 and W2 reveals a striking disparity in dynamics between the folded core and the disordered linker and tail regions. These data are also consistent with rotational diffusion behaviour where each globular domain tumbles almost independently of its neighbour. At a localized level, helix 5 exhibits elevated high frequency dynamics relative to the proximal helix 4, supporting a model of fibrillogenesis where this helix unfolds as part of the transition to a mixed α-helix/β-sheet fibre.
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35
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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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36
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Phase separation and mechanical properties of an elastomeric biomaterial from spider wrapping silk and elastin block copolymers. Biopolymers 2016; 105:693-703. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children; Toronto Canada
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children; Toronto Canada
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Toronto; Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; University of Toronto; Canada
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37
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Weatherbee-Martin N, Xu L, Hupe A, Kreplak L, Fudge DS, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Identification of Wet-Spinning and Post-Spin Stretching Methods Amenable to Recombinant Spider Aciniform Silk. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:2737-46. [PMID: 27387592 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spider silks are outstanding biomaterials with mechanical properties that outperform synthetic materials. Of the six fibrillar spider silks, aciniform (or wrapping) silk is the toughest through a unique combination of strength and extensibility. In this study, a wet-spinning method for recombinant Argiope trifasciata aciniform spidroin (AcSp1) is introduced. Recombinant AcSp1 comprising three 200 amino acid repeat units was solubilized in a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)/water mixture, forming a viscous α-helix-enriched spinning dope, and wet-spun into an ethanol/water coagulation bath allowing continuous fiber production. Post-spin stretching of the resulting wet-spun fibers in water significantly improved fiber strength, enriched β-sheet conformation without complete α-helix depletion, and enhanced birefringence. These methods allow reproducible aciniform silk fiber formation, albeit with lower extensibility than native silk, requiring conditions and methods distinct from those previously reported for other silk proteins. This provides an essential starting point for tailoring wet-spinning of aciniform silk to achieve desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andre Hupe
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Douglas S Fudge
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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38
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Dinjaski N, Kaplan DL. Recombinant protein blends: silk beyond natural design. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 39:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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39
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Sarker M, Orrell KE, Xu L, Tremblay ML, Bak JJ, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Tracking Transitions in Spider Wrapping Silk Conformation and Dynamics by (19)F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Biochemistry 2016; 55:3048-59. [PMID: 27153372 PMCID: PMC5770200 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aciniform silk protein (AcSp1) is the primary component of wrapping silk, the toughest of the spider silks because of a combination of high tensile strength and extensibility. Argiope trifasciata AcSp1 contains a core repetitive domain with at least 14 homogeneous 200-amino acid units ("W" units). Upon fibrillogenesis, AcSp1 converts from an α-helix-rich soluble state to a mixed α-helical/β-sheet conformation. Solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy allowed demonstration of variable local stability within the W unit, but comprehensive characterization was confounded by spectral overlap, which was exacerbated by decreased chemical shift dispersion upon denaturation. Here, (19)F NMR spectroscopy, in the context of a single W unit (W1), is applied to track changes in structure and dynamics. Four strategic positions in the W unit were mutated to tryptophan and biosynthetically labeled with 5-fluorotryptophan (5F-Trp). Simulated annealing-based structure calculations implied that these substitutions should be tolerated, while circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and (1)H-(15)N chemical shift displacements indicated minimal structural perturbation in W1 mutants. Fiber formation by W2 concatemers containing 5F-Trp substitutions in both W units demonstrated retention of functionality, a somewhat surprising finding in light of sequence conservation between species. Each 5F-Trp-labeled W1 exhibited a unique (19)F chemical shift, line width, longitudinal relaxation time constant (T1), and solvent isotope shift. Perturbation to (19)F chemical shift and nuclear spin relaxation parameters reflected changes in the conformation and dynamics at each 5F-Trp site upon addition of urea and dodecylphosphocholine (DPC). (19)F NMR spectroscopy allowed unambiguous localized tracking throughout titration with each perturbant, demonstrating distinct behavior for each perturbant not previously revealed by heteronuclear NMR experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzaddid Sarker
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kathleen E. Orrell
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Lingling Xu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Marie-Laurence Tremblay
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jessi J. Bak
- 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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40
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Aibibu D, Hild M, Wöltje M, Cherif C. Textile cell-free scaffolds for in situ tissue engineering applications. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE. MATERIALS IN MEDICINE 2016; 27:63. [PMID: 26800694 PMCID: PMC4723636 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-015-5656-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In this article, the benefits offered by micro-fibrous scaffold architectures fabricated by textile manufacturing techniques are discussed: How can established and novel fiber-processing techniques be exploited in order to generate templates matching the demands of the target cell niche? The problems related to the development of biomaterial fibers (especially from nature-derived materials) ready for textile manufacturing are addressed. Attention is also paid on how biological cues may be incorporated into micro-fibrous scaffold architectures by hybrid manufacturing approaches (e.g. nanofiber or hydrogel functionalization). After a critical review of exemplary recent research works on cell-free fiber based scaffolds for in situ TE, including clinical studies, we conclude that in order to make use of the whole range of favors which may be provided by engineered fibrous scaffold systems, there are four main issues which need to be addressed: (1) Logical combination of manufacturing techniques and materials. (2) Biomaterial fiber development. (3) Adaption of textile manufacturing techniques to the demands of scaffolds for regenerative medicine. (4) Incorporation of biological cues (e.g. stem cell homing factors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilbar Aibibu
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Maschinenwesen, Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik, 01062, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Martin Hild
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Maschinenwesen, Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Wöltje
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Maschinenwesen, Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Chokri Cherif
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Maschinenwesen, Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik, 01062, Dresden, Germany
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41
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Yigit S, Dinjaski N, Kaplan DL. Fibrous proteins: At the crossroads of genetic engineering and biotechnological applications. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 113:913-29. [PMID: 26332660 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fibrous proteins, such as silk, elastin and collagen are finding broad impact in biomaterial systems for a range of biomedical and industrial applications. Some of the key advantages of biosynthetic fibrous proteins compared to synthetic polymers include the tailorability of sequence, protein size, degradation pattern, and mechanical properties. Recombinant DNA production and precise control over genetic sequence of these proteins allows expansion and fine tuning of material properties to meet the needs for specific applications. We review current approaches in the design, cloning, and expression of fibrous proteins, with a focus on strategies utilized to meet the challenges of repetitive fibrous protein production. We discuss recent advances in understanding the fundamental basis of structure-function relationships and the designs that foster fibrous protein self-assembly towards predictable architectures and properties for a range of applications. We highlight the potential of functionalization through genetic engineering to design fibrous protein systems for biotechnological and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sezin Yigit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155.,Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Somerville, Massachusetts, 02145
| | - Nina Dinjaski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155.,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155.
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42
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Tremblay ML, Xu L, Lefèvre T, Sarker M, Orrell KE, Leclerc J, Meng Q, Pézolet M, Auger M, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Spider wrapping silk fibre architecture arising from its modular soluble protein precursor. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11502. [PMID: 26112753 PMCID: PMC4481645 DOI: 10.1038/srep11502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders store spidroins in their silk glands as high concentration aqueous solutions, spinning these dopes into fibres with outstanding mechanical properties. Aciniform (or wrapping) silk is the toughest spider silk and is devoid of the short amino acid sequence motifs characteristic of the other spidroins. Using solution-state NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the 200 amino acid Argiope trifasciata AcSp1 repeat unit contrasts with previously characterized spidroins, adopting a globular 5-helix bundle flanked by intrinsically disordered N- and C-terminal tails. Split-intein-mediated segmental NMR-active isotope-enrichment allowed unambiguous demonstration of modular and malleable "beads-on-a-string" concatemeric behaviour. Concatemers form fibres upon manual drawing with silk-like morphology and mechanical properties, alongside secondary structuring and orientation consistent with native AcSp1 fibres. AcSp1 structural stability varies locally, with the fifth helix denaturing most readily. The structural transition of aciniform spidroin from a mostly α-helical dope to a mixed α-helix/β-sheet-containing fibre can be directly related to spidroin architecture and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lingling Xu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Thierry Lefèvre
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, la structure et l'ingénierie des protéines (PROTEO), Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés (CERMA) Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Muzaddid Sarker
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Kathleen E. Orrell
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jérémie Leclerc
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, la structure et l'ingénierie des protéines (PROTEO), Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés (CERMA) Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Michel Pézolet
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, la structure et l'ingénierie des protéines (PROTEO), Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés (CERMA) Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michèle Auger
- Département de Chimie, Regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, la structure et l'ingénierie des protéines (PROTEO), Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés (CERMA) Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Xiang-Qin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jan K. Rainey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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43
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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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44
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Tucker CL, Jones JA, Bringhurst HN, Copeland CG, Addison JB, Weber WS, Mou Q, Yarger JL, Lewis RV. Mechanical and physical properties of recombinant spider silk films using organic and aqueous solvents. Biomacromolecules 2014; 15:3158-70. [PMID: 25030809 PMCID: PMC4130237 DOI: 10.1021/bm5007823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Spider
silk has exceptional mechanical and biocompatibility properties.
The goal of this study was optimization of the mechanical properties
of synthetic spider silk thin films made from synthetic forms of MaSp1
and MaSp2, which compose the dragline silk of Nephila
clavipes. We increased the mechanical stress of MaSp1
and 2 films solubilized in both HFIP and water by adding glutaraldehyde
and then stretching them in an alcohol based stretch bath. This resulted
in stresses as high as 206 MPa and elongations up to 35%, which is
4× higher than the as-poured controls. Films were analyzed using
NMR, XRD, and Raman, which showed that the secondary structure after
solubilization and film formation in as-poured films is mainly a helical
conformation. After the post-pour stretch in a methanol/water bath,
the MaSp proteins in both the HFIP and water-based films formed aligned
β-sheets similar to those in spider silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chauncey L Tucker
- Departments of †Biological Engineering and ‡Biology, Utah State University , Logan, Utah 84322, United States
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45
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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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46
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Wang S, Huang W, Yang D. Structure and Function of C-Terminal Domain of Aciniform Spidroin. Biomacromolecules 2014; 15:468-77. [DOI: 10.1021/bm401709v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shujing Wang
- Department of Biological
Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - Weidong Huang
- Department of Biological
Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - Daiwen Yang
- Department of Biological
Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
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47
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Tokareva O, Michalczechen-Lacerda VA, Rech EL, Kaplan DL. Recombinant DNA production of spider silk proteins. Microb Biotechnol 2013; 6:651-63. [PMID: 24119078 PMCID: PMC3815454 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is considered to be the toughest biopolymer on Earth due to an extraordinary combination of strength and elasticity. Moreover, silks are biocompatible and biodegradable protein-based materials. Recent advances in genetic engineering make it possible to produce recombinant silks in heterologous hosts, opening up opportunities for large-scale production of recombinant silks for various biomedical and material science applications. We review the current strategies to produce recombinant spider silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Tokareva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityMedford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Valquíria A Michalczechen-Lacerda
- Department of Cell Biology, Campus Universitario Darcy Ribeiro, Institute of Biology, University of BrasiliaBrasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Elíbio L Rech
- Embrapa Genetics Resources and Biotechnology, Biotechnology UnitParque Estação Biológica PqEB W5 Norte, Brasilia, 70770-900, DF, Brazil
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityMedford, MA, 02155, USA
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48
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Xu L, Tremblay ML, Orrell KE, Leclerc J, Meng Q, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Nanoparticle self-assembly by a highly stable recombinant spider wrapping silk protein subunit. FEBS Lett 2013; 587:3273-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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49
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Andersson M, Holm L, Ridderstråle Y, Johansson J, Rising A. Morphology and composition of the spider major ampullate gland and dragline silk. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:2945-52. [PMID: 23837699 DOI: 10.1021/bm400898t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spider silk is made of unique proteins-spidroins-secreted and stored as a protein solution (dope) in specialized glands. The major ampullate gland, source of the dragline silk, is composed of a tail, a sac and an elongated duct. For this gland, several different types of epithelial cells and granules have been described, but it is largely unknown how they correlate with spidroin production. It is also not settled what parts of the large spidroins end up in the final silk, and it has been suggested that the N-terminal domain (NT) is lacking. Here we show that NT is present in the dope and throughout dragline silk fibers, including the skin layer, and that the major ampullate tail and sac consist of three different and sharply demarcated zones (A-C), each with a distinct epithelial cell type. Finally, we show that spidroins are produced in the A and B zone epithelia, while the C zone granules lack spidroins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Andersson
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, Uppsala, Sweden
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