Conserved leucine-rich repeat proteins in the adhesive projectile slime of velvet worms
Abstract
The slime of velvet worms (Onychophora) is a protein-based bioadhesive that undergoes rapid, yet reversible transition from a fluid into stiff fibers used for prey capture and defense, but the mechanism by which this phase transition functions is largely unknown. Here, integrating transcriptomic and proteomic approaches with AI-guided structure predictions, we discover a group of evolutionarily conserved leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins in velvet worm slime that readily adopt a receptor-like, protein-binding “horseshoe” structure. Our structural predictions suggest dimerization of LRR proteins and support their interactions with conserved β-sheet-rich domains of high-molecular-weight proteins, the primary building blocks of velvet worm slime fibers. This suggests that LRR proteins might be involved in reversible, receptor-based supramolecular interactions in these biofibers, providing potential avenues for fabricating fully recyclable (bio)polymeric materials.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (15)
Zhaolong Hu
Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
Alexander Baer
Department of Chemistry, McGill University
Lars Hering
Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel
Ivo de Sena Oliveira
Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel
Alexandre Poulhazan
Department of Chemistry, McGill University
Darren C. Browne
Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies
Xue Guo
Quentin Moana Perrin
Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
Radoslaw M. Sobota
Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research
Shawn Hoon
Molecular Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research
Georg Mayer
Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel
Srinivasaraghavan Kannan
Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research
Chandra S. Verma
Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research
Matthew J. Harrington
Department of Chemistry, McGill University
Ali Miserez
Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering