The role of the Golgi apparatus in the synthesis and transport of silk proteins in the major ampullate glands of western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus

Of all silks produced by spiders, the silk from the major ampullate (MA) glands has gained the most attention due to its extraordinary mechanical properties that are comparable to many natural and synthetic fibers. Due to limitations in obtaining large quantities of silk from the spiders, scientists have been attempting to synthesize spider silk proteins artificially with limited success. This study will contribute towards better understanding of how the silk proteins transport through the cells of the MA glands.;I studied the MA glands of the western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. Previous studies indicated that the Golgi apparatus was not observed in the silk synthesizing tail region of the gland. In this study I used transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and glycoprotein detection methods to test for the presence of the Golgi apparatus in the silk synthesizing cells of the MA gland.;My results from the examination of the ultrastructure of the cells of the MA glands indicate that the Golgi apparatus could be missing from the tail region. Detection of the 0-linked glycoproteins did not demonstrate any evidence for the presence of glycosylated proteins. The silk proteins in the tail region may not be glycosylated. These studies suggest that the silk proteins could be bypassing the Golgi step during their transport pathway.