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A BIOLOGICAL and EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH to the STUDY of SPIDER SILK MATERIAL PROPERTIES a Dissertation Presented to the Graduate

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A BIOLOGICAL and EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH to the STUDY of SPIDER SILK MATERIAL PROPERTIES a Dissertation Presented to the Graduate A BIOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF SPIDER SILK MATERIAL PROPERTIES A Dissertation Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Cecilia Boutry May, 2011 A BIOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF SPIDER SILK MATERIAL PROPERTIES Cecilia Boutry Dissertation Approved: Accepted: ______________________________ ________________________ Advisor Department Chair Todd A. Blackledge Monte Turner ______________________________ ________________________ Co-Advisor Dean of the College Ali Dhinojwala Chand Midha ______________________________ ________________________ Committee Member Dean of the Graduate School Brian Bagatto George R. Newkome ______________________________ ________________________ Committee Member Date Francisco B.-G Moore ______________________________ Committee Member Peter H. Niewiarowski ii ABSTRACT Spider silk is a biomaterial that combines high strength and extensibility. Because of these exceptional material properties, silk could be used for many applications. However, before we can mass-produce spider silk analogs for these applications, we need to better understand the relation between silk molecular structure and its properties. Furthermore, the whole range of properties that can be achieved by silks may not have been gauged yet, as most studies focus on a few selected species. The first part of my research focused on silk plasticity. I found that common house spiders (Achaearanea tepidariorum) change their silk properties in function of their prey type (cricket or pillbug). Silk properties also differ between different regions of the cobweb spun by a common house spider. However, silk properties did not differ for other species (black widows and bridge spiders). Major ampullate silk plasticity increased during spider evolution. Silk plasticity may be mediated by a valve present in the spinning duct of Orbicularia, which allows them to apply shear forces during forcible silking and control their speed during falls. Silk plasticity may have been selected for as spiders make more diverse uses of their major ampullate silk. The second part of my research dealt with supercontraction. Supercontraction refers to the shrinking of silk exposed to high humidities. Several hypotheses on its mechanisms and functions have been proposed, but seldom tested. By measuring supercontraction in iii many different spider species, with various silk composition, web type and silk uses, I tested three of these hypotheses. GPGXX amino acid motif are likely involved in supercontraction. Furthermore, supercontraction probably allows spiders to better tailor their silk properties, but, contrary to an early idea, it may not help protect webs from water drops. Supercontraction may affect how whole webs function too. Supercontracted webs were found to absorb more kinetic energy and deform more when hit by a projectile (mimicking a flying prey). Thus, another potential function of supercontraction is to improve web performance. To conclude, my research shed light on various aspects of silk material properties by taking an evolutionary approach. This approach may be expanded further in order to better understand silk evolution and estimate the range of silk properties. This study also helps better understand how silk properties and web architecture interact within spider webs. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................ viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................1 II. THE COMMON HOUSE SPIDER ALTERS THE MATERIAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COBWEB SILK IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT PREY..........................................................................................................4 Introduction....................................................................................................................4 Methods..........................................................................................................................7 Results..........................................................................................................................15 Discussion....................................................................................................................19 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................25 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................26 III. BIOMECHANICAL VARIATION OF SILK LINKS SPINNING PLASTICITY TO SPIDER WEB FUNCTION .....................................................................................27 Introduction..................................................................................................................27 Material and Methods ..................................................................................................29 Results..........................................................................................................................33 Discussion....................................................................................................................34 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................43 v Acknowledgments........................................................................................................44 IV. SILK PLASTICITY WITHIN ORB-WEBS AND COBWEBS ..............................45 Introduction..................................................................................................................45 Material and Methods ..................................................................................................46 Results..........................................................................................................................49 Discussion....................................................................................................................50 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................53 V. PLASTICITY IN MAJOR AMPULLATE SILK PRODUCTION INCREASED DURING SPIDER EVOLUTION ..................................................................................54 Introduction..................................................................................................................54 Material and Methods ..................................................................................................58 Results..........................................................................................................................63 Discussion....................................................................................................................66 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................72 VI. EVOLUTION OF SUPERCONTRACTION IN SPIDER SILK: STRUCTURE- FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP FROM TARANTULAS TO ORB-WEAVERS .........73 Introduction..................................................................................................................73 Material and Methods ..................................................................................................79 Results..........................................................................................................................88 Discussion....................................................................................................................91 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................99 Acknowledgments......................................................................................................100 VII. SPIDER SILK SUPERCONTRACTION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ORB-WEBS............................................................................................................101 Introduction................................................................................................................101 vi Material and Methods ................................................................................................103 Results........................................................................................................................109 Discussion..................................................................................................................112 Acknowledgments......................................................................................................117 VIII. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................118 IX. LITERATURE CITED...........................................................................................120 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1: Kinetic energy of prey compared to energy absorbed by sticky gumfooted threads spun by spiders fed each type of prey ................................................................18 2.2: Average mass of spiders and their prey compared to maximum sustainable load of individual supporting threads upon failure and upon yield
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