Search results for "Spider"
showing 10 items of 97 documents
Detection of Single Oxygen Molecules with Fluorescence-Labeled Hemocyanins
2005
This study introduces a method to detect individual oxygen molecules by fluorescence microscopy of single hemocyanins. These respiratory proteins from a tarantula bind oxygen with high affinity. A spectrometric signature of the oxygenated protein is transferred to an attached fluorescence label, which can be detected at the single-molecule level. This technique opens new perspectives for the development of small and sensitive oxygen sensors as well as for the investigation of cooperative oxygen binding in respiratory proteins.
Tarantula hemocyanins imaged by atomic force microscopy
2004
Individual 4 x 6-meric tarantula hemocyanins and dissociation products were imaged by AFM in the non-contact mode. Although the resolution was low, the hexamers and topological arrangement within the oligomers can be seen. However, the relative humidity seems to affect the height profiles.
Biomimetic composites with enhanced toughening using silk-inspired triblock proteins and aligned nanocellulose reinforcements
2019
Silk-like proteins produced in bacteria are used as adhesives for cellulose nanofibrils to make a new biological material.
The diversity and evolution of chelicerate hemocyanins
2012
Abstract Background Oxygen transport in the hemolymph of many arthropod species is facilitated by large copper-proteins referred to as hemocyanins. Arthropod hemocyanins are hexamers or oligomers of hexamers, which are characterized by a high O2 transport capacity and a high cooperativity, thereby enhancing O2 supply. Hemocyanin subunit sequences had been available from horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura) and various spiders (Araneae), but not from any other chelicerate taxon. To trace the evolution of hemocyanins and the emergence of the large hemocyanin oligomers, hemocyanin cDNA sequences were obtained from representatives of selected chelicerate classes. Results Hemocyanin subunits from a sea s…
Female choice for male drumming in the wolf spiderHygrolycosa rubrofasciata
1997
Mate preferences in invertebrates have usually been studied with simultaneous choice exper- iments alone, which allows eVective detection of any preferences but does not tell much about the strength of inter-sexual selection. Under natural conditions females frequently have to rely on sequential choice, and choosy females may incur opportunity and direct costs such as loss of time when they reject a male. Female preference in the wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata for two components of male courtship signalling, rate and volume, was investigated. Both of these characteristics were tested with a sequential choice set-up and the eVect of volume also with a simultaneous choice method. Femal…
Wound-induced responses in leaves of strawberry cultivars differing in susceptibility to spider mite
2002
Summary The effect of leaf detachment and wounding on the activities of oxidative enzymes and ethylene production was studied in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cultivars, differing in susceptibility to the spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.). Strawberry plants were cultivated during winter in two growth conditions - with and without overwintering, in greenhouse and laboratory, respectively. Polyphenol oxidase activity, peroxidase activity and catalase activity in strawberry leaves depended on the cultivar analysed, type of treatment (detachment or detachment and wounding), as well as on plant growth conditions. Activities of all analysed enzymes were higher in control plants grown in …
Glycopolymer Functionalization of Engineered Spider Silk Protein-based Materials for Improved Cell Adhesion
2014
Silk protein-based materials are promising biomaterials for application as tissue scaffolds, due to their processability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The preparation of films composed of an engineered spider silk protein (eADF4(C16)) and their functionalization with glycopolymers are described. The glycopolymers bind proteins found in the extracellular matrix, providing a biomimetic coating on the films that improves cell adhesion to the surfaces of engineered spider silk films. Such silk-based materials have potential as coatings for degradable implantable devices.
A new replacement name for the fossil spider Veterator Petrunkevitch, 1963 (Arthropoda: Arachnida: Araneae)
2021
A junior homonym was detected in the genera of fossil Araneae and the following replacement name is proposed within the family Trochanteriidae: Neoveterator Ceccolini & Cianferoni nom. nov. pro Veterator Petrunkevitch, 1963 nec Laws, 1944. Eight new combinations (comb. nov.) are proposed.
Methionine in a protein hydrophobic core drives tight interactions required for assembly of spider silk
2019
Web spiders connect silk proteins, so-called spidroins, into fibers of extraordinary toughness. The spidroin N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a pivotal role in this process: it polymerizes spidroins through a complex mechanism of dimerization. Here we analyze sequences of spidroin NTDs and find an unusually high content of the amino acid methionine. We simultaneously mutate all methionines present in the hydrophobic core of a spidroin NTD from a nursery web spider’s dragline silk to leucine. The mutated NTD is strongly stabilized and folds at the theoretical speed limit. The structure of the mutant is preserved, yet its ability to dimerize is substantially impaired. We find that side chains of…
A potential role for water in the modulation of oxygen-binding by tarantula hemocyanin
2003
Hemocyanin from the tarantula Eurypelma californicum is a large respiratory protein with an exceptional high cooperativity. In contrast to hemocyanins from other species, no physiological allosteric effectors other than protons have been identified so far for this 24-meric oligomer. Here we report for the first time the mediating effects of water activity on the oxygen binding properties of a hemocyanin. Oxygen binding curves were measured in presence of several concentrations of glycine and sucrose since both substances reduce water activity. A pronounced shift of the p(50) was observed in both cases but in different directions: adding sucrose shifts the p(50) towards lower values whereas …