Nature Communications (Nov 2018)

Two-step self-assembly of a spider silk molecular clamp

  • Charlotte Rat,
  • Julia C. Heiby,
  • Jessica P. Bunz,
  • Hannes Neuweiler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07227-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Molecular details that underlie mechanical properties of spider silk are of great interest to material scientists. Here, the authors report a previously unknown three-state mechanism of folding and an expanded structure of a spider silk protein that may contribute to elasticity of spider silk.