Biomechanics: Spider glue: sticky when wet
Nature Communications
May 23, 2018
The mechanism by which spider aggregate glue is able to stick to surfaces in humid and wet conditions is identified in an article, published in Nature Communications this week. This finding could inspire the development of new adhesion systems that can be used in such environments.
In biology, adhesion systems that work reliably under humid conditions are common. Spiders, for example, use a glue-type material to hunt and capture their prey in humid or wet habitats. Effective approaches to guarantee adhesion in humid and wet environments include utilising specialized molecules, which can change their form or structure depending on the humidity. However, the exact mechanism by which spider glue continues to work in humid conditions had not been identified.
Ali Dhinojwala and colleagues investigated how orb-web spider aggregate glue sticks on a sapphire surface, to determine the adhesion mechanism under wet conditions. Using a spectroscopic method called sum frequency generation spectroscopy, they reveal that glycoproteins (proteins which consist of amino acids and sugar molecules) are the main component of spider aggregate glue, and can change their structure in wet conditions. By doing so, these proteins fold in a way that makes adhesion favourable in the presence of water. Additionally, small molecules, which are able to attract water, are also ubiquitous in spider aggregate glue. These compounds sequester free water that normally covers the substrate and glue interface and thus impede adhesion.
The authors suggest that understanding this mechanism could facilitate improved adhesion performance and reduce failure in wet environments.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04263-z
Research highlights
-
Jul 1
Criminology: Predicting police enforcement bias in major US citiesNature Human Behaviour
-
Jul 1
Evolution: Pandas gave bamboo the thumbs up at least six million years agoScientific Reports
-
Jul 1
Space health: The path of most resistance could help limit bone loss during spaceflightScientific Reports
-
Jun 30
Genomics: Gray wolf genome hints at dual ancestry of dogsNature
-
Jun 30
Evolution: Hawks learn on the fly to swoop up before perchingNature
-
Jun 30
Microbiology: Transmission of gastrointestinal viruses in salivaNature