Collaborative Research: Functional genomics of spider silk synthesis and fiber performance within the Western black widow and among cob-web weaving spiders

合作研究：西方黑寡妇和蛛网蜘蛛中蜘蛛丝合成和纤维性能的功能基因组学

• 批准号: 0951061
• 负责人: Cheryl Hayashi
• 金额: $ 20.07万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-05-01 至 2015-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0951061&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Functional; genomics; spider

Among silk producing organisms, spiders are unparalleled in their reliance on silk and variety of ways they use silk. Most spiders have multiple types of silk glands, with each type synthesizing a task-specific fiber or glue. Previous molecular studies of spider silk evolution and mechanical function have focused almost entirely on the attributes of the main structural proteins (fibroins). However, the spider silk system necessarily includes fibroin as well as non-fibroin genes. Hence, in this research, state-of-the-art genomic methods will be used to identify all the major elements and their relative abundance within the gene repertoires that underlie silk synthesis in cob-web weaving spiders. The functional significance of the gene repertoires will be assessed by relating them to the mechanical properties of the various fiber types produced by three different species. These results will enhance the understanding of how spiders make their high-performance silks. This knowledge is relevant to the biotechnological efforts to mass-produce synthetic spider silk for industrial and medical applications. In terms of educational impact, this research will directly involve undergraduates at a primarily undergraduate institution (Washington & Lee) and a minority-serving institution (UC Riverside) through incorporation into classroom curricula and student research projects. Importantly, the grant will enable undergraduates to travel between the institutions for cross-training and to present at national science conferences, which will let the students eyewitness the collaborative nature of research and career opportunities for professional biologists. Project results will be broadly disseminated by depositing data into genetic databases, publication in scholarly journals, incorporation into press releases, and presentations to school children and the general public.

在产丝生物中，蜘蛛对丝的依赖以及使用丝的方式的多样性是无与伦比的。 大多数蜘蛛有多种类型的丝腺，每种类型都会合成特定任务的纤维或胶水。 先前对蜘蛛丝进化和机械功能的分子研究几乎完全集中在主要结构蛋白（丝心蛋白）的属性上。 然而，蜘蛛丝系统必然包括丝心蛋白和非丝心蛋白基因。 因此，在这项研究中，最先进的基因组方法将用于识别蛛网蜘蛛丝合成的基因库中的所有主要元素及其相对丰度。 基因库的功能意义将通过将它们与三个不同物种产生的各种纤维类型的机械特性相关联来评估。 这些结果将增强人们对蜘蛛如何制造高性能丝的理解。 这些知识与大规模生产用于工业和医疗应用的合成蜘蛛丝的生物技术努力相关。 在教育影响方面，这项研究将通过纳入课堂课程和学生研究项目，直接让主要本科院校（华盛顿与李大学）和少数族裔服务机构（加州大学河滨分校）的本科生参与。 重要的是，这笔赠款将使本科生能够在各机构之间进行交叉培训并在国家科学会议上发表演讲，这将使学生亲眼目睹专业生物学家的研究合作性质和职业机会。 项目结果将通过将数据存入遗传数据库、在学术期刊上发表、纳入新闻稿以及向学童和公众进行演示来广泛传播。