Dissecting the structural determinants for the difference in mechanical stability of silk and amyloid beta-sheet stacks
Literature Information
Senbo Xiao, Shijun Xiao
Stacking of β-sheets results in a protein super secondary structure with remarkable mechanical properties. β-Stacks are the determinants of a silk fiber's resilience and are also the building blocks of amyloid fibrils. While both silk and amyloid-type crystals are known to feature a high resistance against rupture, their structural and mechanical similarities and particularities are yet to be fully understood. Here, we systematically compare the rupture force and stiffness of amyloid and spider silk poly-alanine β-stacks of comparable sizes using Molecular Dynamics simulations. We identify the direction of force application as the primary determinant of the rupture strength; β-sheets in silk are orientated along the fiber axis, i.e. the pulling direction, and consequently require high forces in the several nanoNewton range for shearing β-strands apart, while β-sheets in amyloid are oriented vertically to the fiber, allowing a zipper-like rupture at sub-nanoNewton forces. A secondary factor rendering amyloid β-stacks softer and weaker than their spider silk counterparts is the sub-optimal side-chain packing between β-sheets due to the sequence variations of amyloid-forming proteins as opposed to the perfectly packed poly-alanine β-sheets of silk. Taken together, amyloid fibers can reach the stiffness of silk fibers in spite of their softer and weaker β-sheet arrangement as they are missing a softening amorphous matrix.
Recommended Journals

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Science

Helvetica Chimica Acta

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids

Pharmacological Reviews

Kinetics and Catalysis

Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry

Science Progress

Pure and Applied Chemistry
Related Literature
Spin density localization and accessibility of organic radicals affect liquid-state DNP efficiency
Markus Hiller, Igor Tkach, Tomas Orlando
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP05796G
Mixing divalent ionic liquids: effects of charge and side-chains
Eduards Bakis, Adriaan van den Bruinhorst, Laure Pison, Ivan Palazzo, Thomas Chang, Marianne Kjellberg, Cameron C. Weber, Margarida Costa Gomes, Tom Welton
DOI: 10.1039/D1CP00208B
Protein flexibility reduces solvent-mediated friction barriers of ligand binding to a hydrophobic surface patch
Christopher Päslack, Lars V. Schäfer, Matthias Heyden
DOI: 10.1039/D1CP00181G
Liquid droplets of protein LAF1 provide a vehicle to regulate storage of the signaling protein K-Ras4B and its transport to the lipid membrane
Lei Li, Marius Herzog, Simone Möbitz, Roland Winter
DOI: 10.1039/D1CP00007A
Influence of the MACl additive on grain boundaries, trap-state properties, and charge dynamics in perovskite solar cells
Yanru Guo, Shuai Yuan, Dongping Zhu, Man Yu, Hao-Yi Wang, Jun Lin, Yi Wang, Yujun Qin, Jian-Ping Zhang, Xi-Cheng Ai
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP06575G
Photocatalytic oxygen evolution triggered by photon upconverted emission based on triplet–triplet annihilation
Shutaro Tateyama, Fuminao Kishimoto
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP06139E
Magnetization reversal on different time-scales for ErFeO3 and NdFeO3 single crystals
Mohanad H. Mohammed, Zhenxiang Cheng, Shixun Cao, Joseph Horvat
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP06354A
Comment on “Impact of water on the BrO + HO2 gas-phase reaction: mechanism, kinetics and products” by N. T. Tsona, S. Tang and L. Du, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019, 21, 20296
Ronald Chow, Daniel K. W. Mok, John M. Dyke
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP00222D
Strain-mediated bandgap engineering of straight and bent semiconductor nanowires
Bryan Lim, Xiang Yuan Cui, Simon P. Ringer
DOI: 10.1039/D1CP00457C
You might also like
What is the market or research trend for N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-2-pyridinamine (CAS: 52818-63-0)?
N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-2-pyridinamine (CAS: 52818-63-0) is increasingly being used ...
What precautions should be taken when handling Ethyl 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylate (CAS: 1050507-06-6)?
When handling Ethyl 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylate, appropriate p...
What regulatory guidelines apply to diethyldiselane (CAS: 628-39-7)?
Diethyldiselane (CAS: 628-39-7) is classified under the Globally Harmonized Syst...
What is the market or research trend for oxocopper (CAS: 12053-18-8)?
The market for oxocopper (CAS: 12053-18-8) is primarily driven by its use in cat...
What is the market or research trend for 5-{[(2-Methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-7-carboxylic acid?
The market for 5-{[(2-Methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-7-c...
What is 2-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyridinamine (CAS: 35981-63-6)?
2-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyridinamine is a chemical compound with the CAS number 359...
What are the physical and chemical properties of 2-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (CAS: 91556-75-1)?
2-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (CAS: 91556-75-1) is a crystalline sol...
How is (S)-Alpha-allyl-proline hydrochloride (CAS: 129704-91-2) typically synthesized?
(S)-Alpha-allyl-proline hydrochloride is usually synthesized via a Wittig reacti...
What is 3-Methyl-1,2-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid (CAS: 4857-42-5)?
3-Methyl-1,2-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid (CAS: 4857-42-5) is an organic compound w...
How is Lys-SMCC-DM1 (CAS: 1281816-04-3) typically synthesized?
Lys-SMCC-DM1 is synthesized via a multi-step process involving the coupling of S...
Source Journal
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) is an international journal co-owned by 19 physical chemistry and physics societies from around the world. This journal publishes original, cutting-edge research in physical chemistry, chemical physics and biophysical chemistry. To be suitable for publication in PCCP, articles must include significant innovation and/or insight into physical chemistry; this is the most important criterion that reviewers and Editors will judge against when evaluating submissions. The journal has a broad scope and welcomes contributions spanning experiment, theory, computation and data science. Topical coverage includes spectroscopy, dynamics, kinetics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, catalysis, surface science, quantum mechanics, quantum computing and machine learning. Interdisciplinary research areas such as polymers and soft matter, materials, nanoscience, energy, surfaces/interfaces, and biophysical chemistry are welcomed if they demonstrate significant innovation and/or insight into physical chemistry. Joined experimental/theoretical studies are particularly appreciated when complementary and based on up-to-date approaches.
![(2R,6S)-6-[(Benzyloxy)methyl]-4-{[(2-methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-2-morpholinecarboxylic acid structure (2R,6S)-6-[(Benzyloxy)methyl]-4-{[(2-methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-2-morpholinecarboxylic acid structure](https://static.chemtradehub.com/structs/109/1093085-91-6-3382.webp)



