title: Electrostatic charges instigate 'concertina-like' mechanisms of molecular toughening in MaSp1 (spider silk) proteins.
abstract: According to a recent article authored by Ortega-Jimenez and Dudley [1], the capture success of spiders is in part due to electrostatic charges on the surfaces of insects that macroscopically deform the spider web and increase the chances of insect-web contact. In this brief communication, we further show that electrostatic charges instigate a molecular 'concertina-like' mechanism of deformation in MaSp1 protein, which effectively begins the toughening-up of dragline silk threads prior to insect-web contact.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting, Centre for Functional Materials, Abo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3, 20500 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahlevan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting, Centre for Functional Materials, Abo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3, 20500 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toivakka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting, Centre for Functional Materials, Abo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3, 20500 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: parvez.alam@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Parvez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013112:Spiders; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D047011:Silk; C019529:polyalanine; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases
keywords: Deformation; Interfaces; Mechanical properties; Polymers