title: Thermally induced alpha-helix to beta-sheet transition in regenerated silk fibers and films.
abstract: The structure of thin films cast from regenerated solutions of Bombyx mori cocoon silk in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol (HFIP) was studied by synchrotron X-ray diffraction during heating. A solid-state conformational transition from an alpha-helical structure to the well-known beta-sheet silk II structure occurred at a temperature of approximately 140 degrees C. The transition appeared to be homogeneous, as both phases do not coexist within the resolution of the current study. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the films showed an endothermic melting peak followed by an exothermic crystallization peak, both occurring near 140 degrees C. Oriented fibers were also produced that displayed this helical molecular conformation. Subsequent heating above the structural transition temperature produced oriented beta-sheet fibers very similar in structure to B. mori cocoon fibers. Heat treatment of silk films at temperatures well below their degradation temperature offers a controllable route to materials with well-defined structures and mechanical behavior.
authors.affiliation: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Drummy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Morley O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Rajesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D006358:Hot Temperature; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D047011:Silk; D003300:Copper