Combined SANS, UV-visible and fluorescence to resolve assembly mechanisms in native silk

Due to the chemical and structural complexities inherent to biological processes, the simultaneous combination of experimental techniques is necessary to gain reliable information about the mechanism and molecular basis for fibril/fibre assembly. A specific example is the role of reactive intermediates during the assembly of protein superstructures, such as in gelation, crystallisation, and fibrillation. Therefore, our aim, using the promising NUrF (Neutron small-angle scattering – UV-visible - Fluorescence) platform at Larmor, is to uniquely extract the rate laws and resolve the intermediates (chemical and structural) involved in the formation of silk protein fibrils. This detailed and comprehensive characterization will allow for future rational design of assembly, with the final aim to mimic the extraordinary mechanical properties of silk in biomaterials.