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Stadlmayr S, Peter K, Millesi F, Rad A, Wolf S, Mero S, Zehl M, Mentler A, Gusenbauer C, Konnerth J, Schniepp HC, Lichtenegger H, Naghilou A, Radtke C. Comparative Analysis of Various Spider Silks in Regard to Nerve Regeneration: Material Properties and Schwann Cell Response. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302968. [PMID: 38079208 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve reconstruction through the employment of nerve guidance conduits with Trichonephila dragline silk as a luminal filling has emerged as an outstanding preclinical alternative to avoid nerve autografts. Yet, it remains unknown whether the outcome is similar for silk fibers harvested from other spider species. This study compares the regenerative potential of dragline silk from two orb-weaving spiders, Trichonephila inaurata and Nuctenea umbratica, as well as the silk of the jumping spider Phidippus regius. Proliferation, migration, and transcriptomic state of Schwann cells seeded on these silks are investigated. In addition, fiber morphology, primary protein structure, and mechanical properties are studied. The results demonstrate that the increased velocity of Schwann cells on Phidippus regius fibers can be primarily attributed to the interplay between the silk's primary protein structure and its mechanical properties. Furthermore, the capacity of silk fibers to trigger cells toward a gene expression profile of a myelinating Schwann cell phenotype is shown. The findings for the first time allow an in-depth comparison of the specific cellular response to various native spider silks and a correlation with the fibers' material properties. This knowledge is essential to open up possibilities for targeted manufacturing of synthetic nervous tissue replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Stadlmayr
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karolina Peter
- Institute for Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Flavia Millesi
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anda Rad
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Sonja Wolf
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Sascha Mero
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Martin Zehl
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Axel Mentler
- Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Claudia Gusenbauer
- Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln an der Donau, 3430, Austria
| | - Johannes Konnerth
- Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln an der Donau, 3430, Austria
| | - Hannes C Schniepp
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - Helga Lichtenegger
- Institute for Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Aida Naghilou
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Radtke
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Rapid molecular diversification and homogenization of clustered major ampullate silk genes in Argiope garden spiders. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010537. [PMID: 36508456 PMCID: PMC9779670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary diversification of orb-web weaving spiders is closely tied to the mechanical performance of dragline silk. This proteinaceous fiber provides the primary structural framework of orb web architecture, and its extraordinary toughness allows these structures to absorb the high energy of aerial prey impact. The dominant model of dragline silk molecular structure involves the combined function of two highly repetitive, spider-specific, silk genes (spidroins)-MaSp1 and MaSp2. Recent genomic studies, however, have suggested this framework is overly simplistic, and our understanding of how MaSp genes evolve is limited. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of MaSp structural and evolutionary diversity across species of Argiope (garden spiders). This genomic analysis reveals the largest catalog of MaSp genes found in any spider, driven largely by an expansion of MaSp2 genes. The rapid diversification of Argiope MaSp genes, located primarily in a single genomic cluster, is associated with profound changes in silk gene structure. MaSp2 genes, in particular, have evolved complex hierarchically organized repeat units (ensemble repeats) delineated by novel introns that exhibit remarkable evolutionary dynamics. These repetitive introns have arisen independently within the genus, are highly homogenized within a gene, but diverge rapidly between genes. In some cases, these iterated introns are organized in an alternating structure in which every other intron is nearly identical in sequence. We hypothesize that this intron structure has evolved to facilitate homogenization of the coding sequence. We also find evidence of intergenic gene conversion and identify a more diverse array of stereotypical amino acid repeats than previously recognized. Overall, the extreme diversification found among MaSp genes requires changes in the structure-function model of dragline silk performance that focuses on the differential use and interaction among various MaSp paralogs as well as the impact of ensemble repeat structure and different amino acid motifs on mechanical behavior.
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3
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Arakawa K, Kono N, Malay AD, Tateishi A, Ifuku N, Masunaga H, Sato R, Tsuchiya K, Ohtoshi R, Pedrazzoli D, Shinohara A, Ito Y, Nakamura H, Tanikawa A, Suzuki Y, Ichikawa T, Fujita S, Fujiwara M, Tomita M, Blamires SJ, Chuah JA, Craig H, Foong CP, Greco G, Guan J, Holland C, Kaplan DL, Sudesh K, Mandal BB, Norma-Rashid Y, Oktaviani NA, Preda RC, Pugno NM, Rajkhowa R, Wang X, Yazawa K, Zheng Z, Numata K. 1000 spider silkomes: Linking sequences to silk physical properties. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo6043. [PMID: 36223455 PMCID: PMC9555773 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo6043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks are among the toughest known materials and thus provide models for renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable biopolymers. However, the entirety of their diversity still remains elusive, and silks that exceed the performance limits of industrial fibers are constantly being found. We obtained transcriptome assemblies from 1098 species of spiders to comprehensively catalog silk gene sequences and measured the mechanical, thermal, structural, and hydration properties of the dragline silks of 446 species. The combination of these silk protein genotype-phenotype data revealed essential contributions of multicomponent structures with major ampullate spidroin 1 to 3 paralogs in high-performance dragline silks and numerous amino acid motifs contributing to each of the measured properties. We hope that our global sampling, comprehensive testing, integrated analysis, and open data will provide a solid starting point for future biomaterial designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8520, Japan
- Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8520, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Kono
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8520, Japan
| | - Ali D. Malay
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ayaka Tateishi
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Nao Ifuku
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Ryota Sato
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Spiber Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Kousuke Tsuchiya
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Rintaro Ohtoshi
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Spiber Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | | | | | - Yusuke Ito
- Spiber Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakamura
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Spiber Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Akio Tanikawa
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yuya Suzuki
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Takeaki Ichikawa
- Kokugakuin Kugayama High School, Suginami, Tokyo 168-0082, Japan
| | - Shohei Fujita
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan
| | - Masayuki Fujiwara
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
| | - Masaru Tomita
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8520, Japan
- Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8520, Japan
| | - Sean J. Blamires
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jo-Ann Chuah
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hamish Craig
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Choon P. Foong
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Gabriele Greco
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Juan Guan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chris Holland
- Natural Materials Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Kumar Sudesh
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Biman B. Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, 781 039 Assam, India
- Center for Nanotechnology, IITG, Guwahati, 781 039 Assam, India
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, IITG, Guwahati, 781 039 Assam, India
| | - Y. Norma-Rashid
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur A. Oktaviani
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Rucsanda C. Preda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Nicola M. Pugno
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS London, UK
| | - Rangam Rajkhowa
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kenjiro Yazawa
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Zhaozhu Zheng
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
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4
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Jorge I, Ruiz V, Lavado-García J, Vázquez J, Hayashi C, Rojo FJ, Atienza JM, Elices M, Guinea GV, Pérez-Rigueiro J. Expression of spidroin proteins in the silk glands of golden orb-weaver spiders. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 338:241-253. [PMID: 34981640 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The expression of spidroins in the major ampullate, minor ampullate, flagelliform, and tubuliform silk glands of Trichonephila clavipes spiders was analyzed using proteomics analysis techniques. Spidroin peptides were identified and assigned to different gene products based on sequence concurrence when compared with the whole genome of the spider. It was found that only a relatively low proportion of the spidroin genes are expressed as proteins in any of the studied glands. In addition, the expression of spidroin genes in different glands presents a wide range of patterns, with some spidroins being found in a single gland exclusively, while others appear in the content of several glands. The combination of precise genomics, proteomics, microstructural, and mechanical data provides new insights both on the design principles of these materials and how these principles might be translated for the production of high-performance bioinspired artificial fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Jorge
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Ruiz
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Lavado-García
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Grup d'Enginyeria Cel·lular i de Bioprocessos (GECIB), Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Vázquez
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cheryl Hayashi
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA
| | - Francisco J Rojo
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Atienza
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Elices
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo V Guinea
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Pérez-Rigueiro
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
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5
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Diaz C, Baker RH, Long JH, Hayashi CY. Connecting materials, performance and evolution: a case study of the glue of moth-catching spiders (Cyrtarachninae). J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274249. [PMID: 35119070 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Morphological structures and extended phenotypes are made possible by materials that are encoded by the genome. Nearly all biomaterials are viscoelastic, which means that to understand performance, one must understand the strain rate-dependent properties of these materials in relevant ecological interactions, as the behavior of a material can vary dramatically and rapidly. Spider silks are an example of materials whose properties vary substantially intra- and inter-specifically. Here, we focus on aggregate silk, which functions as a biological adhesive. As a case study to understand how a material manifests from genome through organism to ecology, we highlight moth-specialist spiders, the Cyrtarachninae, and their glues as an ideal experimental system to investigate the relationship between genomics and ecologically variable performance of a biological material. There is a clear eco-evolutionary innovation that Cyrtarachne akirai and related species have evolved, a unique trait not found in other spiders, a glue which overcomes the scales of moths. By examining traditional orb-weavers, C. akirai and other subfamily members using biomechanical testing and genomic analysis, we argue that we can track the evolution of this novel bioadhesive and comment on the selection pressures influencing prey specialization. The importance of the ecological context of materials testing is exemplified by the poor performance of C. akirai glue on glass and the exceptional spreading ability and adhesive strength on moths. The genetic basis for these performance properties is experimentally tractable because spider silk genes are minimally pleiotropic and advances in genomic technologies now make possible the discovery of complete silk gene sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candido Diaz
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0731, USA
| | - Richard H Baker
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - John H Long
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0731, USA
| | - Cheryl Y Hayashi
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
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6
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Nutritionally induced nanoscale variations in spider silk structural and mechanical properties. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 125:104873. [PMID: 34653899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104873] [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: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Spider major ampullate (MA) silk is characterized by high strength and toughness and is adaptable across environments. Experiments depriving spiders of protein have enabled researchers to examine nutritionally induced changes in gene expression, protein structures, and bulk properties of MA silk. However, it has not been elucidated if it varies in a similar way at a nanoscale. Here we used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to simultaneously examine the topographic, structural, and mechanical properties of silks spun by two species of spider, Argiope keyserlingi and Latrodectus hasselti, at a nanoscale when protein fed or deprived. We found height, a measure of localized width, to substantially vary across species and treatments. We also found that Young's modulus, which may be used as an estimate of localized stiffness, decreased with protein deprivation in both species' silk. Our results suggest that nanoscale skin-core structures of A. keyserlingi's MA silk varied significantly across treatments, whereas only slight structural and functional variability was found for L. hasselti's silk. These results largely agreed with examinations of the bulk properties of each species' silk. However, we could not directly attribute the decoupling between protein structures and bulk mechanics in L. hasselti's silk to nanoscale features. Our results advance the understanding of processes inducing skin and core structural variations in spider silks at a nanoscale, which serves to enhance the prospect of developing biomimetic engineering programs.
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7
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Wolff JO, Liprandi D, Bosia F, Joel AC, Pugno NM. Robust substrate anchorages of silk lines with extensible nano-fibres. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:7903-7913. [PMID: 34369547 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00552a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Living systems are built of multiscale-composites: materials formed of components with different properties that are assembled in complex micro- and nano-structures. Such biological multiscale-composites often show outstanding physical properties that are unachieved by artificial materials. A major scientific goal is thus to understand the assembly processes and the relationship between structure and function in order to reproduce them in a new generation of biomimetic high-performance materials. Here, we tested how the assembly of spider silk nano-fibres (i.e. glue coated 0.5 μm thick fibres produced by so-called piriform glands) into different micro-structures correlates with mechanical performance by empirically and numerically exploring the mechanical behaviour of line anchors in an orb weaver, a hunting spider and two ancient web builders. We demonstrate that the anchors of orb weavers exhibit outstanding mechanical robustness with minimal material use by the indirect attachment of the silk line to the substrate through a soft domain ('bridge'). This principle can be used to design new artificial high-performance attachment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas O Wolff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
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8
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Kono N, Nakamura H, Mori M, Yoshida Y, Ohtoshi R, Malay AD, Pedrazzoli Moran DA, Tomita M, Numata K, Arakawa K. Multicomponent nature underlies the extraordinary mechanical properties of spider dragline silk. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2107065118. [PMID: 34312234 PMCID: PMC8346794 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107065118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dragline silk of golden orb-weaver spiders (Nephilinae) is noted for its unsurpassed toughness, combining extraordinary extensibility and tensile strength, suggesting industrial application as a sustainable biopolymer material. To pinpoint the molecular composition of dragline silk and the roles of its constituents in achieving its mechanical properties, we report a multiomics approach, combining high-quality genome sequencing and assembly, silk gland transcriptomics, and dragline silk proteomics of four Nephilinae spiders. We observed the consistent presence of the MaSp3B spidroin unique to this subfamily as well as several nonspidroin SpiCE proteins. Artificial synthesis and the combination of these components in vitro showed that the multicomponent nature of dragline silk, including MaSp3B and SpiCE, along with MaSp1 and MaSp2, is essential to realize the mechanical properties of spider dragline silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Kono
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihouji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakamura
- Spiber Inc., 234-1 Mizukami, Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Masaru Mori
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihouji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshida
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihouji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - Rintaro Ohtoshi
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ali D Malay
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | | | - Masaru Tomita
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihouji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Depertment of Material Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyotodaigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihouji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0017, Japan;
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 5322 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
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9
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Htut KZ, Alicea-Serrano AM, Singla S, Agnarsson I, Garb JE, Kuntner M, Gregorič M, Haney RA, Marhabaie M, Blackledge TA, Dhinojwala A. Correlation between protein secondary structure and mechanical performance for the ultra-tough dragline silk of Darwin's bark spider. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210320. [PMID: 34129788 PMCID: PMC8205537 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The spider major ampullate (MA) silk exhibits high tensile strength and extensibility and is typically a blend of MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins with the latter comprising glycine-proline-glycine-glycine-X repeating motifs that promote extensibility and supercontraction. The MA silk from Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) is estimated to be two to three times tougher than the MA silk from other spider species. Previous research suggests that a unique MaSp4 protein incorporates proline into a novel glycine-proline-glycine-proline motif and may explain C. darwini MA silk's extraordinary toughness. However, no direct correlation has been made between the silk's molecular structure and its mechanical properties for C. darwini. Here, we correlate the relative protein secondary structure composition of MA silk from C. darwini and four other spider species with mechanical properties before and after supercontraction to understand the effect of the additional MaSp4 protein. Our results demonstrate that C. darwini MA silk possesses a unique protein composition with a lower ratio of helices (31%) and β-sheets (20%) than other species. Before supercontraction, toughness, modulus and tensile strength correlate with percentages of β-sheets, unordered or random coiled regions and β-turns. However, after supercontraction, only modulus and strain at break correlate with percentages of β-sheets and β-turns. Our study highlights that additional information including crystal size and crystal and chain orientation is necessary to build a complete structure-property correlation model.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Zin Htut
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Angela M. Alicea-Serrano
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Saranshu Singla
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Jessica E. Garb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Gregorič
- Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Robert A. Haney
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
| | - Mohammad Marhabaie
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Todd A. Blackledge
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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10
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Pérez-Rigueiro J, Elices M, Plaza GR, Guinea GV. Basic Principles in the Design of Spider Silk Fibers. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061794. [PMID: 33806736 PMCID: PMC8004941 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The prominence of spider silk as a hallmark in biomimetics relies not only on its unrivalled mechanical properties, but also on how these properties are the result of a set of original design principles. In this sense, the study of spider silk summarizes most of the main topics relevant to the field and, consequently, offers a nice example on how these topics could be considered in other biomimetic systems. This review is intended to present a selection of some of the essential design principles that underlie the singular microstructure of major ampullate gland silk, as well as to show how the interplay between them leads to the outstanding tensile behavior of spider silk. Following this rationale, the mechanical behavior of the material is analyzed in detail and connected with its main microstructural features, specifically with those derived from the semicrystalline organization of the fibers. Establishing the relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure in spider silk not only offers a vivid image of the paths explored by nature in the search for high performance materials, but is also a valuable guide for the development of new artificial fibers inspired in their natural counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Pérez-Rigueiro
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (M.E.); (G.R.P.); (G.V.G.)
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-9174304
| | - Manuel Elices
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (M.E.); (G.R.P.); (G.V.G.)
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo R. Plaza
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (M.E.); (G.R.P.); (G.V.G.)
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo V. Guinea
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (M.E.); (G.R.P.); (G.V.G.)
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Miller J, Vienneau-Hathaway J, Dendev E, Lan M, Ayoub NA. The common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, maintains silk gene expression on sub-optimal diet. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237286. [PMID: 33296374 PMCID: PMC7725297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cobweb weaving spiders and their relatives spin multiple task-specific fiber types. The unique material properties of each silk type result from differences in amino acid sequence and structure of their component proteins, primarily spidroins (spider fibrous proteins). Amino acid content and gene expression measurements of spider silks suggest some spiders change expression patterns of individual protein components in response to environmental cues. We quantified mRNA abundance of three spidroin encoding genes involved in prey capture in the common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Theridiidae), fed different diets. After 10 days of acclimation to the lab on a diet of mealworms, spiders were split into three groups: (1) individuals were immediately dissected, (2) spiders were fed high-energy crickets, or (3) spiders were fed low-energy flies, for 1 month. All spiders gained mass during the acclimation period and cricket-fed spiders continued to gain mass, while fly-fed spiders either maintained or lost mass. Using quantitative PCR, we found no significant differences in the absolute or relative abundance of dragline gene transcripts, major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and major ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp2), among groups. In contrast, prey-wrapping minor ampullate spidroin (MiSp) gene transcripts were significantly less abundant in fly-fed than lab-acclimated spiders. However, when measured relative to Actin, cricket-fed spiders showed the lowest expression of MiSp. Our results suggest that house spiders are able to maintain silk production, even in the face of a low-quality diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Miller
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, United States of America
| | | | - Enkhbileg Dendev
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, United States of America
| | - Merrina Lan
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, United States of America
| | - Nadia A. Ayoub
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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