The production of silk in spiders and silkworms involves the transformation of concentrated liquid protein feedstock into hierarchically organized solid fibers through a highly controlled mechanism facilitated by their respective glandular spinning apparatus. Recent insights suggest that liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays a central role in organizing the initially disordered silk protein chains into dense yet dynamic condensates, which is a key step towards rapid fiber formation. This hierarchical assembly process underlies the remarkable mechanical properties of silk fibers.
- Michelle Gracia Lay
- Nur Alia Oktaviani
- Keiji Numata
