Identification and dynamics of polyglycine II nanocrystals in Argiope trifasciata flagelliform silk

Perea Abarca, Gracia Belén and Riekel, Christian and Guinea Tortuero, Gustavo V. and Madurga, Rodrigo and Daza Garcia, Rafael and Burghammer, Manfred and Hayashi, C. and Elices Calafat, Manuel and Plaza Baonza, Gustavo Ramón and Pérez Rigueiro, José (2013). Identification and dynamics of polyglycine II nanocrystals in Argiope trifasciata flagelliform silk. "Scientific Reports", v. 3 ; pp. 1-6. ISSN 2045-2322. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep03061.

Description

Title: Identification and dynamics of polyglycine II nanocrystals in Argiope trifasciata flagelliform silk
Author/s:
  • Perea Abarca, Gracia Belén
  • Riekel, Christian
  • Guinea Tortuero, Gustavo V.
  • Madurga, Rodrigo
  • Daza Garcia, Rafael
  • Burghammer, Manfred
  • Hayashi, C.
  • Elices Calafat, Manuel
  • Plaza Baonza, Gustavo Ramón
  • Pérez Rigueiro, José
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Scientific Reports
Date: October 2013
ISSN: 2045-2322
Volume: 3
Subjects:
Freetext Keywords: Nanoscale biophysics, structural properties, bioinspired materials, polymers At a glance
Faculty: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB) (UPM)
Department: Ciencia de los Materiales
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

Spider silks combine a significant number of desirable characteristics in one material, including large tensile strength and strain at breaking, biocompatibility, and the possibility of tailoring their properties. Major ampullate gland silk (MAS) is the most studied silk and their properties are explained by a double lattice of hydrogen bonds and elastomeric protein chains linked to polyalanine β-nanocrystals. However, many basic details regarding the relationship between composition, microstructure and properties in silks are still lacking. Here we show that this relationship can be traced in flagelliform silk (Flag) spun by Argiope trifasciata spiders after identifying a phase consisting of polyglycine II nanocrystals. The presence of this phase is consistent with the dominant presence of the –GGX– and –GPG– motifs in its sequence. In contrast to the passive role assigned to polyalanine nanocrystals in MAS, polyglycine II nanocrystals can undergo growing/collapse processes that contribute to increase toughness and justify the ability of Flag to supercontract.

More information

Item ID: 29068
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/29068/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:29068
DOI: 10.1038/srep03061
Official URL: http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131028/srep03061/f...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 15 Apr 2015 16:39
Last Modified: 15 Apr 2015 16:39
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