Table 1 Mechanical properties of multicellular fibres with various gene deletions and other natural fibres.

From: Study of the tensile properties of individual multicellular fibres generated by Bacillus subtilis

Material

Diameter (μm)

Tensile strength (MPa)

Elastic modulus (GPa)

Breaking strain (%)

Source

ΔSED

0.7

62.2

5.8

1.5

This study

ΔSE

0.7

82.7

4.5

2.4

This study

B. mori silk

9.3

650

16

7–16

[27]

Coir

100–450

153

4–6

15–40

[28, 29]

Jute

25–120

533

2.5–13.0

1–2

[28, 29]

Cotton

11–22

287–597

5.5–12.6

7.0–8.0

[28]

  1. Using the targeted gene deletion method, two types of B. subtilis multicellular fibres are synthesized: ΔSED (fibres with sigD, lytE, and lytD genes deleted) and ΔSE (fibres with sigD and lytE genes deleted). Their mechanical properties are compared with those of Bombyx mori (B. mori) silk, coir, jute, and cotton at low relative humidity (RH).
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