Spider silks biochemistry

Prince, J.T. McGrath, K.P. DiGirolamo, C.M. Kaplan, D.L. Construction, cloning and expression of synthetic genes encoding spider dragline silk. Biochemistry 34 10879-10884 (1995). 

Prince JT, et al. (1995) Construction, Cloning, and Expression of S3mthetic Genes Encoding Spider Dragline Silk. Biochemistry. 34 p. 10879-85. 

The silks of insects like the silkworm Bombyx mori have been mentioned several times in this chapter in fact, far more is known about the biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of the silkworm than of any spider. There are many similarities between insect silks and spider silks, e.g. the predominance of amino acids with short side chains or the occurrence of some sequence motifs, which can help to understand the general principles involved in the generation of their material properties. Yet, there are also major differences that have to be taken into account. Most insect silks are used as cocoons or protective webs in larval stages and originate in labial glands [32]. In contrast. 

Craig, C.L., Riekel, C. Comparative architecture of silks, fibrous proteins and their encoding genes in insects and spiders. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B Biochemistrydc Molecular Biology, 2002,133(4), 493-507. 

Tian, M., and Lewis, R. V. (2005). Molecular characterization and evolutionary study of spider tubuliform (eggcase) silk protein. Biochemistry 44, 8006-8012. 

Huemmerich, D., Helsen, C.W., Quedzuweit, S., Oschmann, J., Rudolph, R., and Scheibel, T. "Primary structure elements of spider dragline silks and their contribution to protein solubility". Biochemistry 43(42), 13604—13612 (2004). 

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