Two mechanisms for supercontraction in Nephila spider dragline silk.

摘要: Supercontraction in dragline silk of Nephila edulis spider is shown to have two distinct components revealed by single fiber measurements using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The first component relies on a contraction maximum 13% and seems be associated with relaxation processed through the glass transition, Tg, as induced increasing temperature and/or humidity. second liquid water total 30%. Tg-induced linearly correlated restraining stress fiber, properties partially contracted profiles that differ from both native fully supercontracted fibers. Here we present novel supercontraction data discuss their structural origins, examining stretched orientation different primary structure sequences.