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An investigation of the divergence of major ampullate silk fibers from Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia. 2005

Amanda E Brooks, and Holly B Steinkraus, and Shane R Nelson, and Randolph V Lewis
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA. abrooks@uwyo.edu

The major ampullate fiber of both Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia is composed of two different proteins, MaSp1 and MaSp2. Each of these proteins has a highly conserved pattern of silk-associated amino acid motifs. The GPGXX motif is the only source of proline and is unique to MaSp2. On the basis of the percent of proline, Nephila clavipes major ampullate silk was calculated to consist of 19% MaSp2 and 81% MaSp1, while Argiope aurantia was calculated to have a significantly higher MaSp2 content of 59% with MaSp1 comprising the remaining 41%. To investigate the functional implications of the difference in protein composition, major ampullate silk fibers from Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia were mechanically tested and compared. Stress-strain curves produced from polynomial regression show that the two significant differences between major ampullate silk fibers from Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia are the average peak load stress and Young's modulus, with Argiope higher for both.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008422 Materials Testing The testing of materials and devices, especially those used for PROSTHESES AND IMPLANTS; SUTURES; TISSUE ADHESIVES; etc., for hardness, strength, durability, safety, efficacy, and biocompatibility. Biocompatibility Testing,Biocompatible Materials Testing,Hemocompatibility Testing,Testing, Biocompatible Materials,Testing, Hemocompatible Materials,Hemocompatibility Testings,Hemocompatible Materials Testing,Materials Testing, Biocompatible,Materials Testing, Hemocompatible,Testing, Biocompatibility,Testing, Hemocompatibility,Testing, Materials,Testings, Biocompatibility
D008956 Models, Chemical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D011392 Proline A non-essential amino acid that is synthesized from GLUTAMIC ACID. It is an essential component of COLLAGEN and is important for proper functioning of joints and tendons. L-Proline,L Proline
D011487 Protein Conformation The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain). Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D005260 Female Females
D005349 Fibroins Fibrous proteins secreted by INSECTS and SPIDERS. Generally, the term refers to silkworm fibroin secreted by the silk gland cells of SILKWORMS, Bombyx mori. Spider fibroins are called spidroins or dragline silk fibroins. Fibroin,Spidroin,Dragline Silk Fibroins,Fibroins, Spider,Silk Fibroin,Silk Fibroins,Spidroins,Fibroin, Silk,Fibroins, Dragline Silk,Fibroins, Silk,Spider Fibroins
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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