Hidden link between protein structure and mechanical properties of the world’s toughest spider silk

[Past Projects]

Dr. Todd Blackledge, Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, Angela Alicea-Serrano and K Zin Htut

Buehler et al. NanoWerk. 2010; Zhang and Tso et al. Extracellular Composite Matrices in Arthropods, 2016, Springer, First Edition; Angnarrson et al. Plos One. 2010, 5, 9, 1-8.
Research Description Spider dragline silk is the toughest biomaterial in nature; spider silk is ounce for ounce tougher than steel and the Kevalr in bullet resistant armor. Silk properties and composition inspire genetically engineered biomaterialssuch as medical sutures, artificial tendons and ligaments, which must be extensible and strong but also light. These future applications of spider silk require a clear understanding of protein structure and its connection with the mechanical properties of biomaterials. We are investigating the world’s toughest dragline silk from Darwin’s bark spider, which spins giant orb webs across the rivers of Madagascar suspended on silk lines up to 80 feet long. We are combing nanotensile testing of silk performance with cutting edge Raman laser spectroscopy techniques to understand how specific aspects of protein structure such as alpha helix and beta sheet content changed during the evolution of Darwin’s bark spider’s “super silk”.
Obtaining silk from a Black Widow spider
Benefits of working in the spider lab
  • Hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research.
  • Introduction to cutting edge technology in spectroscopy techniques for characterization of biomaterials at the molecular level (like proteins and lipids).
  • Use of sophisticated nano-tensile tester for characterization of mechanical properties of biomaterials (like silks, bones, skin and muscles).
  • Participation in lab meetings and experience presenting research at a professional setting.
  • Experience analyzing data and using statistics.
  • High chance of publication opportunities.
  • Experience handling spiders and collecting of spider silk and other biomaterials.
Example of publications by undergraduates in the lab
  1. Amarpuri G*, Chaurasai V**, Jain D*, Blackledge TA & Dhinojwala A. 2015. Ubiquitous distribution of salts and proteins in spider glue enhances spider silk adhesion. Scientific Reports. 5: 9030.
  2. Sahni V.*, Miyoshi T., Chen K.**, Jain D.*, Blamires S.J., Blackledge T.A. & Dhinojwala A. 2014. Direct solvation of glycoproteins by salts in spider silk glues enhances adhesion and helps to explain the evolution of modern spider orb webs. Biomacromolecules 15:1225-1232.
  3. Sensenig A., Kelly S.P.**, Lorentz K.A.**, Lesher B.** & Blackledge T.A. 2013. Mechanical performance of spider orb webs is tuned for high-speed prey. Journal of Experimental Biology. 216: 3388-3394.
  4. Kelly S.P.**, Sensenig A., Lorentz K.A.** & Blackledge T.A. 2011. Damping capacity is evolutionarily conserved in the radial silk of orb-weaving spiders. Zoology. 114: 233-238.
Over 9 miles of silk from the Golden Orb Weaver spider: Nephila clavipes. The silk was used as a rope to be tested in the popular show Myth Busters Jr.
For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/blackledgelab, https://www.blackledgelab.com/, https://blogs.uakron.edu/dhinojwala/