Silkomics: Insight into the Silk Spinning Process of Spiders

Author(s)

Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto, Jose Roberto ^{[1, 2]} ; Caviquioli Garcia, Ana Maria ^[2] ; Arcuri, Helen Andrade ^[2] ; Esteves, Franciele Grego ^[2] ; Salles, Heliana Clara ^[2] ; Lubec, Gert ^[1] ; Palma, Mario Sergio ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Med Univ Vienna, Dept Pediat, A-1090 Vienna - Austria

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Biosci Rio Claro, Dept Biol, Ctr Study Social Insects, BR-13500 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH; v. 15, n. 4, p. 1179-1193, APR 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

The proteins from the silk-producing glands were identified using both a bottom-up gel-based proteomic approach as well as from a shotgun proteomic approach. Additionally, the relationship between the functions of identified proteins and the spinning process was studied. A total of 125 proteins were identified in the major ampullate, 101 in the flagelliform, 77 in the aggregate, 75 in the tubuliform, 68 in the minor ampullate, and 23 in aciniform glands. On the basis of the functional classification using Gene Ontology, these proteins were organized into seven different groups according to their general function: (1) web silk proteins-spidroins, (ii) proteins related to the folding/conformation of spidroins, (iii) proteins that protect silk proteins from oxidative stress, (iv) proteins involved in fibrillar preservation of silks in the web, (v) proteins related to ion transport into and out of the glands during silk fiber spinning, (vi) proteins involved in prey captute and pre-digestion, and (vii) housekeeping proteins from all of the glands. Thus, a general mechanism of action for the identified proteins in the silk-producing glands from the Nephila clavipes spider was proposed; the current results also indicate that the webs play an active role in prey capture. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/19051-6 - Structural analysis of silk proteins of Nephila clavipes spider web by a proteomic approach.
• Grantee: José Roberto Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/26451-9 - Bioprospecting and Structural Analysis of the Silk Proteins of Arthropods by a Proteomics Approach Using nanoLC-ESI-CID/ETD System
• Grantee: José Roberto Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/51684-1 - System biology as experimental strategy for discovery of novel natural products in the fauna of venomous arthropods from São Paulo State
• Grantee: Mario Sergio Palma
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants