<h4style = "color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Model of our engineered sequence is consistent with prior measurements of a disulfide bond</h4>
<p>
While the AlphaFold <ahref="#ref1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> predictions are low confidence of the H-fibroin structure as a whole, the use of energy minimization and molecular
dynamics <ahref="#ref2"><sup>[2]</sup></a>,<ahref="#ref3"><sup>[4]</sup></a>,<ahref="#ref4"><sup>[7]</sup></a> builds confidence in the quality of this output. Most importantly, our model suggests that key residue-specific interactions
dynamics <ahref="#ref2"><sup>[2]</sup></a>,<ahref="#ref3"><sup>[3]</sup></a>,<ahref="#ref4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> builds confidence in the quality of this output. Most importantly, our model suggests that key residue-specific interactions
between L- and H-fibroin are preserved in our engineered sequences, relative to their native counterparts. A strong cysteine-cysteine disulfide
interaction between h- and L-fibroin is predicted to be preserved—for instance, the model suggests that the cysteine ~20 residues from the end
of our engineered H-fibroin and the cysteine between residues 150 and 200 of the L-fibroin are consistent with their expected relative positions
and that they maintain the strong cysteine-cysteine disulfide interaction observed in existing caddisfly silk proteins.<ahref="#ref5"><sup>[5]</sup></a>
</p>
<p>
In prior biochemical experiments on homologous l- and H-fibroin subunits in the silkworm Bombyx mori, performed by Tanaka et al., Cys-172 of
In prior biochemical experiments on homologous l- and H-fibroin subunits in the silkworm <m>Bombyx mori</m>, performed by Tanaka et al., Cys-172 of
L-chain and Cys-c20 of H-chain had been experimentally validated as the residues to form a disulfide bond in that species. These measurements and
validations guided our identification of similar interactions proposed by our model—between cysteine residues in the same regions.
</p>
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@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ figcaption {
<li>Periodic Boundary Conditions: XYZ</li>
<li>Simulation temperature: 400K. 400K was used to simulate a higher energy system to allow for faster protein structure changes</li>