Connecting caddisworm silk structure and mechanical properties: combined infrared spectroscopy and mechanical analysis.

ABSTRACT: The underwater silk of an aquatic casemaking caddisfly larvae (Hesperophylax occidentalis) is viscoelastic, and displays distinct yield behaviour, large strain cycle hysteresis and near complete recovery of its initial strength and stiffness when unloaded. Yield followed by a stress plateau has been attributed to sequential rupture of serial Ca(2+)-cross-linked phosphoserine (pS) β-domains. Spontaneous recovery has been attributed to refolding of the Ca(2+)/pS domains powered by an elastic network. In this study, native Ca(2+) ions were exchanged with other metal ions, followed by combined mechanical and FTIR analysis to probe the contribution of pS/metal ion complexes to silk mechanical properties. After exchange of Ca(2+) with Na(+), the fibres are soft elastomers and the infrared spectr

SUBMITTER: Ashton NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4929942 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature