Proline-Tyrosine Ring Interactions in Black Widow Dragline Silk Revealed by Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Selective one-dimensional C-13-C-13 spin-diffusion solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) provides evidence for CH/pi ring packing interactions between Pro and Tyr residues in C-13-enriched Latrodectus hesperus dragline silk. The secondary structure of Pro-containing motifs in dragline spider silks consistently points to an elastin-like type II beta-turn conformation based on C-13 chemical shift analysis. C-13-C-13 spin diffusion measurements as a function of mixing times allow for the measurement of spatial proximity between the Pro and Tyr rings to be similar to 0.5-1 nm, supporting strong Pro-Tyr ring interactions that likely occur through a CH/pi mechanism. These results are supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and analysis and reveals new insights into the secondary structure and Pro-Tyr ring stacking interactions for one of nature's toughest biomaterials.