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Protein Content in Silken Webs of Cellar Spiders (Family-Pholcidae): Effect of Habitat and Senescence

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Abstract

Different class of spiders spin silk to construct different web architectures. Spider’s silk is an extraordinary semi-crystalline biopolymer, which is highly tough and elastic. In the present study we have assessed the total protein content in spider webs produced by young and old cellar spiders (family pholcidae) inhabiting different environments. Data revealed that the total protein content in webs spun by young spiders was higher compared to old spiders of the same spider family. Also, the total protein content in webs spun by garden spiders was significantly higher compared to house spiders of the same spider family.

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Acknowledgements

National Academy of Sciences, India and Department of Science and Technology, Government of India are acknowledged for providing financial assistance to A. Chaudhary via Societal Research Fellowship (NASI/SoRF-Ι/2014-15/65). The Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, is supported by FIST Grant from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Ankita Chaudhary & Syed Ibrahim Rizvi

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  1. Ankita Chaudhary
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  2. Syed Ibrahim Rizvi
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Correspondence to Syed Ibrahim Rizvi.

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Chaudhary, A., Rizvi, S.I. Protein Content in Silken Webs of Cellar Spiders (Family-Pholcidae): Effect of Habitat and Senescence. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 40, 315–318 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-017-0577-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-017-0577-y

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