TY - JOUR
T1 - Proteomic evidence for the silk fibroin genes of spider mites (Order Trombidiformes: Family Tetranychidae)
AU - Arakawa, Kazuharu
AU - Mori, Masaru
AU - Kono, Nobuaki
AU - Suzuki, Takeshi
AU - Gotoh, Tetsuo
AU - Shimano, Satoshi
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by research funds from the Yamagata prefectural government and Tsuruoka city; the Asahi Glass Foundation; and by JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) KAKENHI [18H02203 to TS] [17H03775 to TG] [18K06392 to SS].The authors are grateful to Dr. Yasuki Kitashima, Ibaraki University, for help conducting this study, and Yuki Takai, and Sumiko Ohnuma, Keio University, for providing experimental support.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by research funds from the Yamagata prefectural government and Tsuruoka city; the Asahi Glass Foundation ; and by JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) KAKENHI [ 18H02203 to TS] [ 17H03775 to TG] [ 18K06392 to SS].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/5/15
Y1 - 2021/5/15
N2 - Spider mites are a group of arachnids belonging to Acari (mites and ticks), family Tetranychidae, known to produce nanoscale silk fibers characterized by a high Young's modulus. The silk fibroin gene of spider mites has been computationally predicted through genomic analysis of Tetranychus urticae Koch, but it has yet to be confirmed by proteomic evidence. In this work, we sequenced and assembled the transcriptome from two genera of spider mites, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida and Panonychus citri (McGregor), and combined it with silk proteomics of T. urticae and P. citri to characterize the fibroin genes through comparative genomics and multiomics analysis. As a result, two fibroins were identified, which were different genes than those previously predicted by computational methods. The amino acid composition and secondary structure suggest similarity to aciniform or cylindrical spidroins of spider silk, which partly mirrors their mechanical properties, exhibiting a high Young's modulus. The availability of full-length fibroin sequences of spider mites facilitates the study of the evolution of silk genes that sometimes emerge in multiple lineages in a convergent manner and in the industrial application of artificial protein fibers through the study of the amino acid sequence and the resulting mechanical properties of these silks. Significance: Here we sequenced and assembled the transcriptome from two genera of spider mites, T. kanzawai and P. citri, and combined it with silk proteomics of T. urticae and P. citri to characterize the fibroin genes through comparative genomics and multiomics analysis. Spider mite silk is especially characterized by its extremely fine nano-scale diameter and high Young's modulus, even exceeding those of spider silks. The availability of full-length fibroin sequences of spider mites facilitates the study of the evolution of silk genes, which independently evolved in mites, insects, and spiders but yet show sequence convergence, and in the industrial application of artificial protein fibers through the study of the amino acid sequence and the resulting mechanical properties of these silks.
AB - Spider mites are a group of arachnids belonging to Acari (mites and ticks), family Tetranychidae, known to produce nanoscale silk fibers characterized by a high Young's modulus. The silk fibroin gene of spider mites has been computationally predicted through genomic analysis of Tetranychus urticae Koch, but it has yet to be confirmed by proteomic evidence. In this work, we sequenced and assembled the transcriptome from two genera of spider mites, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida and Panonychus citri (McGregor), and combined it with silk proteomics of T. urticae and P. citri to characterize the fibroin genes through comparative genomics and multiomics analysis. As a result, two fibroins were identified, which were different genes than those previously predicted by computational methods. The amino acid composition and secondary structure suggest similarity to aciniform or cylindrical spidroins of spider silk, which partly mirrors their mechanical properties, exhibiting a high Young's modulus. The availability of full-length fibroin sequences of spider mites facilitates the study of the evolution of silk genes that sometimes emerge in multiple lineages in a convergent manner and in the industrial application of artificial protein fibers through the study of the amino acid sequence and the resulting mechanical properties of these silks. Significance: Here we sequenced and assembled the transcriptome from two genera of spider mites, T. kanzawai and P. citri, and combined it with silk proteomics of T. urticae and P. citri to characterize the fibroin genes through comparative genomics and multiomics analysis. Spider mite silk is especially characterized by its extremely fine nano-scale diameter and high Young's modulus, even exceeding those of spider silks. The availability of full-length fibroin sequences of spider mites facilitates the study of the evolution of silk genes, which independently evolved in mites, insects, and spiders but yet show sequence convergence, and in the industrial application of artificial protein fibers through the study of the amino acid sequence and the resulting mechanical properties of these silks.
KW - Acari
KW - Fibroin
KW - Proteome
KW - Silk
KW - Spider mites
KW - Transcriptome
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85103240423&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104195
DO - 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104195
M3 - Article
C2 - 33757880
AN - SCOPUS:85103240423
SN - 1874-3919
VL - 239
JO - Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods
JF - Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods
M1 - 104195
ER -