College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi 343009, China.
J Biosci. 2011 Dec;36(5):897-910. doi: 10.1007/s12038-011-9165-3.
The silk egg case and orb web of spiders are elaborate structures that are assembled from a number of components. We analysed the structure, the amino acid and fibre compositions, and the tensile properties of the silk fibres of the egg case of Nephila clavata. SEM shows that the outer and inner covers of the egg case consist of thick, medium and thin silk fibres. The silk fibres of the outer cover of the egg case are probably produced by the major and minor ampullate glands. The silk fibres of the inner cover of the egg case from cylindrical glands appears to be distinct from the silk fibres of the major ampullate glands based on their micro-morphology, mole percent amino acid composition and types, and tensile behaviour and properties. Collectively, our investigations show that N. clavata uses silk fibres from relatively few glands in varying combinations to achieve different physical and chemical properties (e.g., color, diameter, morphology and amino acid composition) and functional and mechanical properties in the different layers of the egg case.
蜘蛛的丝质卵囊和圆网是由许多组件组装而成的精细结构。我们分析了 Nephila clavata 卵囊的结构、氨基酸和纤维成分以及丝纤维的拉伸性能。SEM 显示卵囊的外壳和内壳由厚、中、细三种丝纤维组成。卵囊外壳的丝纤维可能由大、小壶腹腺产生。内壳的丝纤维来自圆柱形腺体，根据其微观形态、摩尔百分比氨基酸组成和类型以及拉伸行为和性能，与大壶腹腺的丝纤维明显不同。总的来说，我们的研究表明，N. clavata 使用相对较少的腺体中的丝纤维以不同的组合来实现卵囊不同层的不同物理和化学性质（例如，颜色、直径、形态和氨基酸组成）以及功能和机械性质。
