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The Molecular Secret to Spider Silk’s Strength 

AlphaFold3 and DNP-enhanced NMR reveal key residue-level interactions in dragline silk

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  • February 16, 2026

  • 3 min

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Research from King's College London and San Diego State University has clarified the molecular mechanisms behind the transformation of soluble spider silk proteins into solid fibers, focusing on the critical role of arginine and tyrosine amino acids. The study reveals that cation-π interactions between these residues facilitate liquid–liquid phase separation in spider silk proteins, essential for fiber strength. The findings, which utilized advanced techniques like NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, suggest potential applications in lightweight materials and biomedical devices.

Original Source(s)

The Molecular Secret to Spider Silk’s Strength 

AlphaFold3 and DNP-enhanced NMR reveal key residue-level interactions in dragline silk

  • February 16, 2026

  • 3 min

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