Figure 1
Reproduced from Ref.72.
Schematic representation of a native spider silk protein (a) The domain structure of spider silk proteins, consisting of non-repetitive N- and C-terminal domains, flanking a much larger repetitive section, which alternates between glycine-rich regions and polyalanines. (b) A model for the conversion of soluble spidroins, stored as protein micelles, into insoluble silk fibers through the assembly triggers of shearing force or elongational flow, changing pH, dehydration and changing salts in the silk gland of a spider.
