Elastomeric Proteins: Structures, Biomechanical Properties, and Biological Roles

by Edited by Peter R. Shewry , Arthur S. Tatham , Allen J. Bailey

• ISBN13: 9780521815949
• ISBN10: 0521815940
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-03-15
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book was originally published in 2002. Elastic proteins occur in a wide range of biological systems where they have evolved to fulfil precise biological roles. The best known include proteins in vertebrate muscles and connective tissues, such as titin, elastin and fibrillin, and spider silks. However, other examples include byssus and abductin from bivalve molluscs, resilin from arthropods and gluten from wheat. Interest in elastomeric proteins has been high for several reasons. Firstly, their biological and medical significance, particularly in human disease. Secondly, the unusual properties of proteins such as spider silks provide opportunities to develop materials. Thirdly, the development of scanning probe microscopy makes it possible to study structures and biomechanical properties of these proteins at the single molecule level. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the various aspects of elastomeric proteins.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Contributors	xi
Functions of Elastomeric Proteins in Animals	1	(14)
R. McNeill Alexander
Elastic Proteins: Biological Roles and Mechanical Properties	15	(24)
John Gosline
Margo Lillie
Emily Carrington
Paul Guerette
Christine Ortlepp
Ken Savage
Elastin as a Self-Assembling Biomaterial	39	(15)
C. M. Bellingham
F. W. Keeley
Ideal Protein Elasticity: The Elastin Models	54	(40)
D. W. Urry
T. Hugel
M. Seitz
H. Gaub
L. Sheiba
J. Dea
J. Xu
L. Hayes
F. Prochazka
T. Parker
Fibrillin: From Microfibril Assembly to Biomechanical Function	94	(21)
Cay M. Kielty
Clair Baldock
Michael J. Sherratt
Matthew J. Rock
David Lee
C. Adrian Shuttleworth
Spinning an Elastic Ribbon of Spider Silk	115	(21)
David P. Knight
Fritz Vollrath
Sequences, Structures, and Properties of Spider Silks	136	(16)
R. Lewis
The Nature of Some Spiders' Silks	152	(23)
Fritz Vollrath
David P. Knight
Collagen: Hierarchical Structure and Viscoelastic Properties of Tendon	175	(14)
Peter Fratzl
Collagens with Elastin- and Silk-like Domains	189	(24)
J. Herbert Waite
Eleonora Vaccaro
Chengjun Sun
Jared Lucas
Conformational Compliance of Spectrins in Membrane Deformation, Morphogenesis, and Signalling	213	(29)
Graham H. Thomas
Dennis E. Discher
Giant Protein Titin: Structural and Functional Aspects	242	(17)
J. Trinick
L. Tskhovrebova
Structure and Function of Resilin	259	(20)
Svend Olav Andersen
Gluten, the Elastomeric Protein of Wheat Seeds	279	(23)
Peter R. Shewry
Nigel G. Halford
Peter S. Belton
Arthur S. Tatham
Biological Liquid Crystal Elastomers	302	(19)
David P. Knight
Fritz Vollrath
Restraining Cross-Links in Elastomeric Proteins	321	(17)
Allen J. Bailey
Comparative Structures and Properties of Elastic Proteins	338	(14)
Arthur S. Tatham
Peter R. Shewry
Mechanical Applications of Elastomeric Proteins-- A Biomimetic Approach	352	(14)
J. E. V. Vincent
Biomimetics of Elastomeric Proteins in Medicine	366	(13)
Allen J. Bailey
Index	379