Fibroin

Question 1

Fibroin consists of what amino acids and what does this allow

Answer 1

Small amino acids such as glycine and alanine, allowing close packing and interlocking of R groups

Question 2

How is the overall structure of fibroin stabilised

Answer 2

By extensive hydrogen bonding and VdW interactions between sheets

Question 3

What is ratio composition of silk fibroin in terms of amino acids

Answer 3

3:2:1, Glycine Alanine Serine

Question 4

Silk fibroin consists of what repeats

Answer 4

(Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala)

Question 5

B sheets in silk fibroin are parallel or anti

Answer 5

Anti

Question 6

Why doesn’t silk extend?

Answer 6

Already highly extended

Question 7

The structure of silk fibroin is flexible, how?

Answer 7

Held together by numerous weak interactions rather than covalent bonds such as disulfide bonds