Molecular cloning and characterization of the partial major ampullate silk protein gene from the spider Araneus ventricosus

Abstract

Spider silks have great potential as biomaterials with extraordinary properties. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the major ampullate silk protein gene from the spider Araneus ventricosus. A cDNA encoding the partial major ampullate silk protein (AvMaSp) was cloned from A. ventricosus. An analysis of the cDNA sequence shows that AvMaSp consists of a 240 amino acid repetitive region and a 99 amino acid C-terminal non-repetitive domain. The peptide motifs that were found in the spider major ampullate silk proteins, (A)n, (GA)n, and (GGX)n, were conserved in the repetitive region of AvMaSp. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that AvMaSp belongs to the spider major ampullate spidroin family of proteins. The AvMaSp-R cDNA, which encodes the 240 amino acid repetitive domain, was expressed as a soluble 22kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Recombinant AvMaSp-R was degraded abruptly by trypsin. However, AvMaSp-R was stable at 100°C for at least 30min. Additionally, the AvMaSp-R was stable at pH values from 2 to 12 for at least 1h. Taken together, our findings describe the molecular structure and biochemical properties of the A. ventricosus major ampullate silk protein and demonstrate its potential as a biomaterial.