NEWS | F E AT U R E S | S P I D E R S

A SPINNERS SECRETS
All spiders spin silk, with glands that produce custom blends of proteins with different
motifs that impart just the right properties for each use. The silks exit the abdomen through spinnerets.

Graphic by Valerie Altounian; Text by Elizabeth Pennisi and Robert F. Service

Glands: Piriform Minor ampullate Flagelliform Major ampullate

Cementlike bonding Template spiral lines Permanent spiral lines Frame, dragline, radii, hub
One protein

Aggregate Tubuliform Aciniform

Glue for prey capture Outer layer of Prey wrapping and egg
and web structure egg case case insulation

Downloaded from http://science.sciencemag.org/ on October 19, 2017

This spider has
six spinnerets (two Spidroid A living textile factory
proteins The golden orb-weaver has seven kinds
shown, right), each
secreted of silk glands (distinguished left, by color),
with many silk spigots.
with each generating a specific liquid
Liquid silk of silk proteins, or spidroids, that are
Spinneret chemically modified, solidified into a fiber,
stored, acidic
glycoprotein and extruded from a spigot. (Only one of
coat added the many glands of each type is shown.)
Spigot
Excess water
removed

Silks many uses

Colors denote the type of silk used in the
different parts of the web, as well as
for wrapping and pinning down prey
and for making egg cases.

Protein motifs
Spider silks contain proteins made
up of blocks of recurring alanine
and glycine amino acids. Alanine
blocks typically pack together
in dense, tiny crystals. These are
separated by glycine blocks that
make up amorphous regions.
The combination makes the silk
strong and flexible. Wrapped
up prey

Slinky Zipper Lego

These motifs are rich in Other glycine-rich These regions contain
the amino acids glycine regions zip together, repeating alanines
and proline and help give forming helixes that that lock together, Gluey aggregate beads up
silks their stretchiness. confer flexibility. adding toughness. on fagelliform fbers. Egg sacs

292 20 OCTOBER 2017 VOL 358 ISSUE 6361 sciencemag.org SCIENCE

Published by AAAS
A spinner's secrets
Elizabeth Pennisi and Robert F. Service

Science 358 (6361), 292.

DOI: 10.1126/science.358.6361.292

Downloaded from http://science.sciencemag.org/ on October 19, 2017

ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6361/292

PERMISSIONS http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions

Use of this article is subject to the Terms of Service

Science (print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive
licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. The title
Science is a registered trademark of AAAS.