Gene Sequence for Super Spider Silk Discovered

Live Science ^ | August 05, 2005 | Ker Than

[areeves79]

Scientists have uncovered the genetic sequence for one of the strongest silks that spiders produce, a discovery that could one day be used to make super spider-silk products for humans.

Not all spider silk are created equal. For example, spiders use dragline silk to create the scaffolding for their webs, but another type of silk, known as capture silk, is used to fill out the web. While dragline silk is strong, capture silk is more elastic and also sticky, making it better suited for trapping insects that stray too close.

In total, spiders produce approximately seven different types of silk, which they make using special silk glands. The silk threads are spooled out of the external parts of the glands, known as spinnerets. Spiders often have numerous pairs of spinnerets, which they use to produce different types of silk.

In addition to catching and storing food, spiders also use silk for movement and for reproduction.

One of the strongest and most durable types of spider silk is produced only by sexually mature females and is used to construct protective cocoons for their eggs.

“The protein of the egg-case fibers has a different function altogether from that of the other silks,” said Jessica Garb, a postdoctoral researcher and a co-author on the study.

“Egg-case silk has to last a long time and therefore must be durable under a wide variety of conditions, from freezing to very high temperatures. It needs to be strong enough to protect the eggs from threats such as predators, parasites and molds,” Garb said.

These properties could also make it ideally suited for human purposes.

“Collectively, spider silks are some of the toughest natural fibers known,” said Cheryl Hayashi, an assistant biology professor at the University of California, Riverside. “Imagine a fabric made from such a substance? It would be incredibly strong, flexible and ultimately, biodegradable.”

In addition to body armor, researchers are also working to develop spider-silk rope and spider-silk micro-sutures for use in surgery.

Using molecular biology lab techniques, Hayashi and Garb uncovered the sequence of molecules called amino acids for a major protein component in egg case silk known as Tusp1. Their finding is important because mechanical properties like the strength, elasticity and durability of a silk is determined by its amino acid sequence, and scientists have been successful in discovering only a handful of such sequences.

The researcher’s findings are detailed in the August 1 issue of the journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[Lady Jag]

[balrog666]

Huumm? Bee in your bonnet?

Try imagining yourself in that picture. Now, why are you sticking your right leg out? Why is your right arm behind you? And how are you holding yourself up by one hand while suspended from a string?

Pretty goofy, huh?

[GOP_1900AD]

I have a skin allergy to one of the types, not sure which. Even when I dust, the little fragments of old webs that land on me make me itch. Maybe this will lead to a cure for what itches me ... LOL !

[Plutarch]

If the strongest silk is that for the spider cocoon, why should it be any better than the silk long used from moth cocoons? Special spider powers?

[Moral Hazard]

"Even when I dust, the little fragments of old webs that land on me make me itch."

Lesson: never dust

[Personal Responsibility]

Spiderman is known for twisting and contorting his body into nigh-impossible positions. That one is actually pretty lame in comparison to some others :)

[TheBigB]

Many of the bizarre contorted positions we see Spidey in are actually offshoots of the Steve Ditko style of illustrating from the early comics. To wit:

Notice that there's never any hint of stress or strain..indicating that Ditko felt that Spidey's agility and strength (the proportionate strength of a spider in a man Peter's height and weight would grant him the ability to lift approximately 10 tons) would allow him to achieve this contortions rather easily. Kent, back me up. :o)

[balrog666]

Notice that there's never any hint of stress or strain..

It's those sideways bending knees and twistoflex arms that give me the creeps.

[Lady Jag]

Another study NASA performed with spiders was made into a documentary that was aired on TV a few years ago. Still curious how scientists determined the dosage, look at the defects caused by various "drugs":

[Teacher317]

Her filmography includes:

Lord of the G-Strings,

Bite Me (a hybrid strain of bio-engineered marijuana is delivered to a secluded strip club, it brings with it a monstrous army of insect creatures and a renegade U.S. federal agent with a big chip on his shoulder)

Vampire Vixens (a.k.a. Vampire's Seduction 2)

Witchbabe (The Erotic Witch Project III)

An Erotic Werewolf in London

An Erotic Vampire in Paris

Playmate of the Apes

Mummy Raider

Erotic Survivor

I STRANGLE THE BODY ELECTRIC: The Electric Cord Strangler II

I, ASPHIXIA: The Electric Cord Strangler III

Her production of BIKINI GIRLS ON DINOSAUR PLANET is due out soon.

How I miss the camp of porno titles! ROFL!!

[TheBigB]

Her production of BIKINI GIRLS ON DINOSAUR PLANET is due out soon.

Came out last month, actually. :o)

[GOP_1900AD]

Their closest relatives are crustaceans. No surprise regarding the mean disposition.

[furball4paws]

A slow day, I see. Every once in awhile, they dust off this baby along with poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate. Just way too expensive to be useful except in very unusual circumstances.

[PatrickHenry]

When a spider thread goes bad, it really goes bad.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Notice that there's never any hint of stress or strain..indicating that Ditko felt that Spidey's agility and strength (the proportionate strength of a spider in a man Peter's height and weight would grant him the ability to lift approximately 10 tons) would allow him to achieve this contortions rather easily. Kent, back me up. :o)

Absotively and posilutely correct-a-MUNDO! :)

[TheBigB]

Thankyavurramuch. :o)