Ultrastructure of spider thread anchorages

Journal of Morphology
Marina WirthStanislav N Gorb

Abstract

Spiders attach silken threads to substrates by means of glue-coated nanofibers (piriform silk), spun into disc-like structures. The organization and ultrastructure of this nano-composite silk are largely unknown, despite their implications for the biomechanical function and material properties of thread anchorages. In this work, the ultrastructure of silken attachment discs was studied in representatives of four spider families with Transmission Electron Microscopy to facilitate a mechanistic understanding of piriform silk function across spiders. Based on previous findings from comparative studies of piriform silk gland morphology, we hypothesized that the fibre-glue proportion of piriform silk differs in different spiders, while the composition of fibre and glue fractions is consistent. Results confirmed large differences in the relative proportion of glue with low amounts in the orb weaver Nephila senegalensis (Araneidae) and the hunting spider Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae), larger amounts in the cobweb spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Theridiidae) and a complete reduction of the fibrous component in the haplogyne spider Pholcus phalangioides (Pholcidae). We rejected our hypothesis that glue ultrastructure is consistent. The ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 24, 2019·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Jonas O WolffMarie E Herberstein
Feb 23, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Jonas O WolffMartín J Ramírez
May 31, 2021·Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·R Crystal ChawCheryl Y Hayashi
Oct 14, 2019·ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering·Jeffrey R SimmonsJan K Rainey

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