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Spider dragline silk is formed as the result of a remarkable transformation in which an aqueous dope solution is rapidly converted into an insoluble protein filament with outstanding mechanical properties. Microscopy on the spinning duct in Nephila edulis spiders suggests that this transformation involves a stress-induced formation of anti-parallel beta-sheets induced by extensional flow. Measurements of draw stress at different draw rates during silking confirm that a stress-induced phase transition occurs.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s0141-8130(00)00124-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int J Biol Macromol

Publication Date

13/06/2000

Volume

27

Pages

205 - 210

Keywords

Animals, Coloring Agents, Congo Red, Female, Insect Proteins, Microscopy, Confocal, Protein Folding, Protein Structure, Secondary, Silk, Spiders, Stress, Physiological, Time Factors