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Evolution of arthropod silks.

C L Craig1

  • 1The Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02198, USA.

Annual Review of Entomology
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Spider and insect silk-producing systems are homologous, evolving from an ancient ancestor. Spiders uniquely utilize both systemic and surficial pathways for silk production throughout their lives, influencing silk properties through behavior.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Arthropod Biology

Background:

  • Silk proteins are crucial structural molecules in arthropods.
  • Silk-secreting glands have evolved through distinct pathways in insects and spiders.
  • Understanding the evolutionary origins of silk production provides insights into arthropod diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the homologous origins of silk-secreting systems in spiders and insects.
  • To analyze the evolutionary pathways (systemic and surficial) of silk production.
  • To explore the relationship between spider silk gland evolution, protein diversity, and behavioral adaptations.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative data analysis of silk-secreting systems.
  • Phylogenetic analyses to infer evolutionary relationships.
  • Review of existing literature on arthropod silk evolution.

Main Results:

  • Silk-secreting systems in spiders and insects are homologous, originating from an onychophoran-like ancestor.
  • Two distinct evolutionary pathways for silk production exist: systemic (crural gland) and surficial (cuticular secretions).
  • Spiders uniquely possess both systemic and surficial silk production pathways throughout their lifespan, with gland differentiation linked to energetic needs and behavioral complexity.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of silk production in arthropods is linked to ancestral gland systems.
  • Spiders exhibit a complex evolutionary trajectory in silk production, enabling diverse applications.
  • Spider silk properties can be directly influenced by animal behavior via specialized spinnerets and spigots.

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