The Nanostructure and Nanomechanics of a Novel Black Widow Spider Silk Assessed Using Atomic Force Microscopy

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Y. Tang ◽  
Yang Hsia ◽  
Craig Vierra
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Spider Silk ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Nanoscale Material ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Black Widow Spiders ◽  
Widow Spider

The black widow spider produces numerous silk types that serve unique biological and mechanical functions. Recently, a novel member of the spider silk family, Pyroform Spidroin 1 (PySp1), was identified from the attachment discs of black widow spiders. Here we investigate the nanostructure and the nanoscale material behavior of native PySp1 silks using atomic force microscopy.

High-resolution images of cobweb threads of black widow spider Lactradectus mactans by Atomic-Force Microscopy

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 1056-1057
Author(s):  
A. N. Nguyen ◽  
A. M. F. Moore ◽  
S. A. C. Gould
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Structural Properties ◽  
Spider Silk ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Orb Web ◽  
Widow Spider

Its unique mechanical properties make spider silk well-suited to the capture of prey. Orb webs capture prey by dissipating kinetic energy of prey; therefore, high strain and low resilience are important properties of the silk. Cobwebs capture prey with thread breakage and entanglement; therefore, other properties may be more important. Studies reveal that orb web silks consists of proteins arranged in anti-parallel beta sheets. X-ray diffractions reveal orderly crystal regions interspersed with amorphous regions. Silks of different functions from the same web consist of similar proportions of amino acids, yet differ significantly in mechanical properties. It has been suggested that the amorphous regions play a role in determining mechanical properties of spider web. Given these differences in types of orb web silk threads from a single web, we expect to find different structural properties in the cobweb. We present our progress in measuring the structural properties of the cobweb of the black widow spider, Lactradectus mactans, at the molecular level. Our initial results consist of high resolution atomic force microscope (AFM) images of the thread.

scholarly journals A New Method for Obtaining Model-Free Viscoelastic Material Properties from Atomic Force Microscopy Experiments Using Discrete Integral Transform Techniques

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berkin Uluutku ◽  
Enrique A López-Guerra ◽  
Santiago D Solares
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Integral Transform ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
New Method ◽  
General Strategy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Viscoelastic Models ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Z Domain

Viscoelastic characterization of materials at the micro- and nanoscales is commonly performed with the aid of force-distance relationships acquired using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The general strategy for existing methods is to fit the observed material behavior to specific viscoelastic models, such as generalized viscoelastic models or power-law rheology models, among others.  Here we propose a new method to invert and obtain the viscoelastic properties of a material through the use of the Z-transform, without using a model.  We present the rheological viscoelastic relations in their classical derivation and their Z-domain correspondence.  We illustrate the proposed technique on a model experiment involving a traditional ramp-shaped force-distance AFM curve, demonstrating good agreement between the viscoelastic characteristics extracted from the simulated experiment and the theoretical expectations. We also provide a path for calculating standard viscoelastic responses from the extracted material characteristics.  The new technique based on the Z-transform is complementary to previous model-based viscoelastic analyses and can be advantageous with respect to Fourier techniques due to its generality.  Additionally, it can handle the unbounded inputs traditionally used to acquire force-distance relationships in AFM, such as “ramp” functions, in which the cantilever position is displaced linearly with time for a finite period of time.

scholarly journals Microdissection of Black Widow Spider Silk-producing Glands

10.3791/2382 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia Jeffery ◽  
Coby La Mattina ◽  
Tiffany Tuton-Blasingame ◽  
Yang Hsia ◽  
Eric Gnesa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spider Silk ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Widow Spider

scholarly journals Distribution and fertility of the spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) (Aranei: Theridiidae) in the Odessa region (Ukraine)

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Parasitoid Wasps ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Warm Winter ◽  
Forage Base ◽  
Black Widow Spiders ◽  
Widow Spider

Population dynamics of the black widow spider depends primarily on climatic conditions (short warm winter, wet spring, and hot summer cause an increase in individuals numbers) and secondary – depends on forage base and the number of enemies (parasitoid wasps). Therefore, constant monitoring of black widow spiders in the Odessa region is really important. This article provides data on distribution of the spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) obtained in 2014‒2018 in the Odessa Region (Ukraine). Preliminary surveys were conducted in all districts of the region, and black widow spiders were registered in ten out of 26 districts (Artsyzsky, Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky, Bilyaevsky, Bolgradsky, Izmailsky, Kiliysky, Limansky, Ovidiopolsky, Reniysky, Tatarbunarsky). Mainly, the black widow spiders occurred in the southern districts of the region. Black widow spiders were found to be more common in ruderal habitats (54% of the total individuals collected) and rarer in agrocenoses (12%), saline marshes and steppe areas (17% each). The number of eggs and number of cocoons made by one female were counted. The number of eggs in one cocoon ranged from 276 to 458, and the number of cocoons woven by one female – from one to seven. In the study area, intensive cocoon making and egg laying by the black widow spiders was observed in early July; then the intensity decreased gradually in August. The largest number of the black widows’ cocoons was found in three southern districts of the Odessa Region (Bolgradsky, Izmailsky, and Reniysky). The largest number of eggs in one cocoon was registered in the Reniysky district while the smallest number of eggs was recorded in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky (613) and Bilyaivsky (903) districts. The largest average number of eggs laid by one female was fixed in Reniysky (2710) and Bolgradsky (2571) districts. Moreover, in these two districts located in the south of the Odessa Region, the largest number of the black widows’ nests was found. The smallest number of nests was recorded from three districts: Artsyzsky, Bilyayevsky and Limansky.

scholarly journals Egg Case Protein 3: A Constituent of Black Widow Spider Tubuliform Silk

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 5088
Author(s):  
Mikayla Shanafelt ◽  
Camille Larracas ◽  
Simmone Dyrness ◽  
Ryan Hekman ◽  
Coby La Mattina-Hawkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spider Silk ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Weight Protein ◽  
Egg Case ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Internal Block ◽  
Widow Spider ◽  
Terminal Domains

Spider silk has outstanding mechanical properties, rivaling some of the best materials on the planet. Biochemical analyses of tubuliform silk have led to the identification of TuSp1, egg case protein 1, and egg case protein 2. TuSp1 belongs to the spidroin superfamily, containing a non-repetitive N- and C-terminal domain and internal block repeats. ECP1 and ECP2, which lack internal block repeats and sequence similarities to the highly conserved N- and C-terminal domains of spidroins, have cysteine-rich N-terminal domains. In this study, we performed an in-depth proteomic analysis of tubuliform glands, spinning dope, and egg sacs, which led to the identification of a novel molecular constituent of black widow tubuliform silk, referred to as egg case protein 3 or ECP3. Analysis of the translated ECP3 cDNA predicts a low molecular weight protein of 11.8 kDa. Real-time reverse transcription–quantitative PCR analysis performed with different silk-producing glands revealed ECP3 mRNA is predominantly expressed within tubuliform glands of spiders. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel protein that is secreted into black widow spider tubuliform silk.

scholarly journals Nanoscale effects in the characterization of viscoelastic materials with atomic force microscopy: coupling of a quasi-three-dimensional standard linear solid model with in-plane surface interactions

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 554-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago D Solares
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Plane Surface ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Dynamic Mode ◽  
Viscoelastic Materials ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Standard Linear Solid ◽  
Standard Linear

Significant progress has been accomplished in the development of experimental contact-mode and dynamic-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods designed to measure surface material properties. However, current methods are based on one-dimensional (1D) descriptions of the tip–sample interaction forces, thus neglecting the intricacies involved in the material behavior of complex samples (such as soft viscoelastic materials) as well as the differences in material response between the surface and the bulk. In order to begin to address this gap, a computational study is presented where the sample is simulated using an enhanced version of a recently introduced model that treats the surface as a collection of standard-linear-solid viscoelastic elements. The enhanced model introduces in-plane surface elastic forces that can be approximately related to a two-dimensional (2D) Young’s modulus. Relevant cases are discussed for single- and multifrequency intermittent-contact AFM imaging, with focus on the calculated surface indentation profiles and tip–sample interaction force curves, as well as their implications with regards to experimental interpretation. A variety of phenomena are examined in detail, which highlight the need for further development of more physically accurate sample models that are specifically designed for AFM simulation. A multifrequency AFM simulation tool based on the above sample model is provided as supporting information.

scholarly journals A new method for obtaining model-free viscoelastic material properties from atomic force microscopy experiments using discrete integral transform techniques

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 1063-1077
Author(s):  
Berkin Uluutku ◽  
Enrique A López-Guerra ◽  
Santiago D Solares
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Integral Transform ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
New Method ◽  
General Strategy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Viscoelastic Models ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Characterization Of Materials

Viscoelastic characterization of materials at the micro- and the nanoscale is commonly performed with the aid of force–distance relationships acquired using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The general strategy for existing methods is to fit the observed material behavior to specific viscoelastic models, such as generalized viscoelastic models or power-law rheology models, among others. Here we propose a new method to invert and obtain the viscoelastic properties of a material through the use of the Z-transform, without using a model. We present the rheological viscoelastic relations in their classical derivation and their z-domain correspondence. We illustrate the proposed technique on a model experiment involving a traditional ramp-shaped force–distance AFM curve, demonstrating good agreement between the viscoelastic characteristics extracted from the simulated experiment and the theoretical expectations. We also provide a path for calculating standard viscoelastic responses from the extracted material characteristics. The new technique based on the Z-transform is complementary to previous model-based viscoelastic analyses and can be advantageous with respect to Fourier techniques due to its generality. Additionally, it can handle the unbounded inputs traditionally used to acquire force–distance relationships in AFM, such as ramp functions, in which the cantilever position is displaced linearly with time for a finite period of time.

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