--list chemical diagrams of all seven types of silk--
description: While all seven types of spider silk are made of a family of proteins called Spidroins, their chemical "diagram" is best understood through the repeating blocks of amino acids that give each silk its unique physical properties. Rhodopsin (the extremely sensitive to light pigment involved in vision process) protein structure Licensed by Google At the molecular level, all spider silks share a common structure: highly repetitive amino acid sequences (primarily Glycine and Alanine) that organize into crystalline regions (for strength) and amorphous regions (for elasticity). The specific chemical "recipe" for the seven types is as follows: Dragline Silk (Major Ampullate): Stronger than steel. Chemical Block: Rich in Poly-Alanine blocks that form dense "\(\beta \)-sheet" crystals for extreme tensile strength. Minor Ampullate Silk: Used for web reinforcement. Chemical Block: Contains Glycine-Alanine repeats; lacks the extreme crystalline structure of dragline silk, making it less stretchy but very stable. Flagelliform Silk: The "capture" spiral. Chemical Block: Dominated by GPGGX (Glycine-Proline-Glycine-any amino acid) motifs that create "molecular springs" for up to 200% elasticity. Aciniform Silk: For wrapping prey. Chemical Block: Composed of unique, non-repetitive protein sequences that make it the toughest of all silks (absorbing the most energy before breaking). Tubuliform (Cylindrical) Silk: For egg sacs. Chemical Block: High concentration of Serine and Threonine, providing a stiff, protective thermal barrier for spiderlings. Pyriform Silk: The "attachment disc" (glue). Chemical Block: A complex mix of fibrous proteins and "cementing" proteins that allow the spider to anchor its silk to various surfaces. Aggregate Silk: The sticky droplets. Chemical Block: Unlike the others, this is a liquid aqueous coating consisting of glycoproteins and salts that act as a glue. Would you like to see a breakdown of the amino acid percentages for a specific silk, like the super-st…