title: Modelling self assembly of natural silk solutions.
abstract: We present a tentative interpretation of the origin of nematic liquid crystalline order exhibited by various natural silk fibroin solutions, notably those of orb-weaving spiders and the domestic silkworm Bombyx mori. It is thought that liquid crystalline rheology is exploited during the spinning process. We discuss in this approach the response of the liquid crystalline phase diagram to equilibrium physiological conditions and to parameters characterising the amino acid sequence of the fibroin molecules. The phase diagram is sensitive in this latter respect to sequence mutations, such that it may constitute a source of evolutionary selection pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Stockholm Bioinformatics Center, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden. chefnb@sbc.su.se
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D047011:Silk; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012492:Salts; D047011:Silk; D012996:Solutions; D005349:Fibroins