Modelling self assembly of natural silk solutions

被引：40

作者：

Braun, FN

Viney, C

机构：

[1] Stockholm Univ, Dept Biochem, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden

[2] Stockholm Univ, Dept Biophys, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden

[3] Stockholm Univ, Stockholm Bioinformat Ctr, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden

[4] Heriot Watt Univ, Dept Chem, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Midlothian, Scotland

来源：

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES | 2003年 / 32卷 / 3-5期

关键词：

phase behaviour of silk solutions; spiders (araneae); lepidopterans; liquid crystals; self assembly; amino acid substitution;

D O I：

10.1016/S0141-8130(03)00038-2

中图分类号：

Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];

学科分类号：

071010 ; 081704 ;

摘要：

We present a tentative interpretation of the origin of nematic liquid crystalline order exhibited by various natural silk fibroin solutions, notably those of orb-weaving spiders and the domestic silkworm Bombyx mori. It is thought that liquid crystalline theology is exploited during the spinning process. We discuss in this approach the response of the liquid crystalline phase diagram to equilibrium physiological conditions and to parameters characterising the amino acid sequence of the fibroin molecules. The phase diagram is sensitive in this latter respect to sequence mutations, such that it may constitute a source of evolutionary selection pressure. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

引用

页码：59 / 65

页数：7

共 33 条

[1] Hierarchical self-assembly of chiral rod-like molecules as a model for peptide β-sheet tapes, ribbons, fibrils, and fibers [J].