Researchers Decode Spider Silk's "Molecular Stickers" for Stronger Materials

The discovery could lead to new bio-inspired materials for aircraft, protective gear, and medical applications.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Researchers from King's College London and San Diego State University have decoded the specific amino acids - arginine and tyrosine - that act as "molecular glue" to give spider silk its legendary strength and toughness, surpassing even steel and Kevlar. This breakthrough could pave the way for manufacturing high-performance, sustainable materials inspired by nature's design.

Why it matters

Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind spider silk's remarkable properties offers a sustainable path to developing new materials that rival the strength of steel while also providing insights into complex biological processes like those involved in neurodegenerative diseases.

The details

The researchers used a combination of advanced techniques, including AlphaFold3 modeling, molecular simulations, and NMR spectroscopy, to identify the specific amino acid interactions that trigger the transformation of liquid silk proteins into the solid, ultra-strong silk fibers. They found that the pairing of arginine and tyrosine acts as a chemical trigger, sparking the initial clustering of proteins that eventually form the solid fiber. These interactions remain active as the fiber solidifies, serving as the architectural foundation for the nanostructure that gives spider silk its unmatched mechanical properties.

  • The findings were published on February 6, 2026 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The players

King's College London

A public research university located in London, England.

San Diego State University (SDSU)

A public research university in San Diego, California.

Chris Lorenz

Professor of Computational Materials Science at King's College London.

Gregory Holland

Professor at San Diego State University who co-led the study.

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What they’re saying

“This study provides an atomistic-level explanation of how disordered proteins assemble into highly ordered, high-performance structures.”

— Chris Lorenz, Professor of Computational Materials Science (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

“What surprised us was that silk – something we usually think of as a beautifully simple natural fibre – actually relies on a very sophisticated molecular trick. The same kinds of interactions we discovered are used in neurotransmitter receptors and hormone signalling.”

— Gregory Holland, Professor (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

What’s next

The researchers suggest that further study of spider silk's molecular mechanisms could offer new insights into human health, particularly in understanding how biological signaling works at a molecular level and its connection to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

The takeaway

This breakthrough in understanding the "molecular stickers" that give spider silk its remarkable strength and toughness provides a sustainable blueprint for developing the next generation of high-performance, bio-inspired materials for a wide range of applications, from aerospace engineering to advanced protective gear.