Data from: Spider silk colour co-varies with thermal properties but not protein structure

Understanding how and why animal secretions vary in property has important
biomimetic implications as desirable properties might co-vary. Spider
major ampullate (MA) silk, for instance, is a secretion earmarked for
biomimetic applications, but many of its properties vary among and between
species across environments. Here we tested the hypothesis that MA silk
colour, protein structure, and thermal properties co-vary when protein
uptake is manipulated in the spider Trichonephila plumipes. We collected
silk from adult female spiders maintained on a protein fed or protein
deprived diet. Based on spectrophotometric quantifications we classified
half the silks as ‘bee visible’ and the other half ‘bee invisible’. Wide
Angle X-ray Scattering and Differential Scanning Calorimetry were then
used to assess the silk’s protein structure, and thermal properties
respectively. We found that although protein structures and thermal
properties varied across our treatments only the thermal properties
co-varied with colour. This ultimately suggests that protein structure
alone is not responsible for MA silk thermal properties, nor does it
affect silk colours. We speculate that similar ecological factors act on
silk colour and thermal properties, which should be uncovered to inform
biomimetic programs.