The isolation of silk glands from black widow spiders by means of microdissection for later C13 NMR spectroscopy.
Poster Number
9
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
Techniques of microdissection were used in order to isolate the silk glands found in Latrodectus hesperus and Latrodectus mactans. My position in this project is to isolate the silk glands from the spiders. Once isolated, the glands will be sent to a C13 NMR lab for investigation of the protein conformation of the liquid silk inside the glands. This will then be compared to the solid form, which is already investigated. Black widows were found by searching in warm isolated areas, they were then fed crickets in order to enlarge their abdomens for dissection. The spider was dissected in a petri dish with saline buffer under the dissecting microscope (Leica MZ-APO) which was focused around 8X-24X. Thus fur four of the six glands have been found. These four are the major and minor ampullate glands, which are pear shaped. They also produce non-sticky silk used for dragline and the frames of webs, the aggregates which had an irregular shape, produce sticky droplets that assist in trapping prey. The tubuliforms look like tubes. The orange color tubuliforms produce silk for wrapping eggs, while the white tubuliforms produce silk for scaffo !ding.
Location
DeRosa University Center
Start Date
1-5-2001 9:00 AM
End Date
1-5-2001 5:00 PM
The isolation of silk glands from black widow spiders by means of microdissection for later C13 NMR spectroscopy.
DeRosa University Center
Techniques of microdissection were used in order to isolate the silk glands found in Latrodectus hesperus and Latrodectus mactans. My position in this project is to isolate the silk glands from the spiders. Once isolated, the glands will be sent to a C13 NMR lab for investigation of the protein conformation of the liquid silk inside the glands. This will then be compared to the solid form, which is already investigated. Black widows were found by searching in warm isolated areas, they were then fed crickets in order to enlarge their abdomens for dissection. The spider was dissected in a petri dish with saline buffer under the dissecting microscope (Leica MZ-APO) which was focused around 8X-24X. Thus fur four of the six glands have been found. These four are the major and minor ampullate glands, which are pear shaped. They also produce non-sticky silk used for dragline and the frames of webs, the aggregates which had an irregular shape, produce sticky droplets that assist in trapping prey. The tubuliforms look like tubes. The orange color tubuliforms produce silk for wrapping eggs, while the white tubuliforms produce silk for scaffo !ding.