Spider Silk Protein Forms Amyloid‐Like Nanofibrils through a Non‐Nucleation‐Dependent Polymerization Mechanism

Abstract Amyloid fibrils—nanoscale fibrillar aggregates with high levels of order—are pathogenic in some today incurable human diseases; however, there are also many physiologically functioning amyloids in nature. The process of amyloid formation is typically nucleation‐elongation‐dependent, as exemplified by the pathogenic amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Spider silk, one of the toughest biomaterials, shares characteristics with amyloid. In this study, it is shown that forming amyloid‐like nanofibrils is an inherent property preserved by various spider silk proteins (spidroins). Both spidroins and Aβ capped by spidroin N‐ and C‐terminal domains, can assemble into macroscopic spider silk‐like fibers that consist of straight nanofibrils parallel to the fiber axis as observed in native spider silk. While Aβ forms amyloid nanofibrils through a nucleation‐dependent pathway and exhibits strong cytotoxicity and seeding effects, spidroins spontaneously and rapidly form amyloid‐like nanofibrils via a non‐nucleation‐dependent polymerization pathway that involves lateral packing of fibrils. Spidroin nanofibrils share amyloid‐like properties but lack strong cytotoxicity and the ability to self‐seed or cross‐seed human amyloidogenic peptides. These results suggest that spidroins´ unique primary structures have evolved to allow functional properties of amyloid, and at the same time direct their fibrillization pathways to avoid formation of cytotoxic intermediates.