Amino acid sequences are key to the properties of silks

Although mankind has been using silk for millennia, many aspects of its properties and molecular structure remain unknown. Now, a new study from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan reveals that amino acid sequences are key determinants of the material properties of silk fibers. The work was performed by CSRS scientists in an international collaboration with Beihang University, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Chulalongkorn University.