Long uniform recombinant protein fibers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides improved long uniform recombinant protein fibers with desirable physical traits. The present disclosure also provides compositions derived from the long uniform recombinant protein fibers.

1 . A long uniform recombinant protein fiber, comprising:
 a continuous fiber length of at least 600 m, wherein the mean properties of the fiber comprise:   a tenacity greater than or equal to 12 cN/tex;   a linear density less than or equal to 6 dtex;   a coefficient of variation of tenacity less than 15% along the length; and   a coefficient of variation of linear density less than 20% along the length,   wherein the tenacity is measured using ASTM D3822-14, and the linear density is measured using ASTM D1577.   
     
     
         2 . The recombinant protein fiber of claim  0 , wherein the length is at least 50 m. 
     
     
         3 . The recombinant protein fiber of claim  0 , wherein the length is at least 650 m. 
     
     
         4 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the tenacity has a coefficient of variation less than 10% along the length. 
     
     
         5 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the linear density has a coefficient of variation less than 15% along the length. 
     
     
         6 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the mean elongation at break is greater than 25% and the elongation at break has a coefficient of variation of less than 35% along the length. 
     
     
         7 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the mean initial modulus is greater than 480 cN/tex and the initial modulus has a coefficient of variation of less than 5% along the length. 
     
     
         8 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the mean elongation is greater than 24% and the elongation has a coefficient of variation of less than 45% along the length. 
     
     
         9 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the mean work of rupture is greater than 3 cN*cm and the work of rupture has a coefficient of variation of less than 50% along the length. 
     
     
         10 . The recombinant protein fiber  claim 1 , wherein the mean force at rupture is greater than 7 cN and the force at rupture has a coefficient of variation less than 25% along the length. 
     
     
         11 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the recombinant protein fiber is produced by wet spinning a dope comprising a recombinant protein powder. 
     
     
         12 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 11 , wherein the recombinant protein powder is less than 65% proteinaceous block copolymer by mass. 
     
     
         13 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the recombinant protein fiber comprises a protein sequence comprising repeat units, wherein
 each repeat unit has at least 95% sequence identity to a sequence that comprises from 2 to 20 quasi-repeat units,   each quasi-repeat unit having a composition comprising {GGY-[GPG-X 1 ] n1 -GPS-(A) n2 }, wherein for each quasi-repeat unit:   X 1  is independently selected from the group consisting of SGGQQ, GAGQQ, GQGPY, AGQQ, and SQ; and   n1 is from 4 to 8, and n2 is from 6 to 10.   
     
     
         14 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 13 , wherein n1 is from 4 to 5 for at least half of the quasi-repeat units. 
     
     
         15 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 13 , wherein n2 is from 5 to 8 for at least half of the quasi-repeat units. 
     
     
         16 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 13 , wherein each quasi-repeat unit has at least 95% sequence identity to a MaSp2 dragline silk protein subsequence. 
     
     
         17 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 13 , wherein the recombinant protein sequence comprises alanine-rich regions and glycine-rich regions, wherein:
 the alanine-rich regions form a plurality of nanocrystalline beta-sheets; and   the glycine-rich regions form a plurality of beta-turn structures.   
     
     
         18 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 13 , wherein the repeat unit comprises SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         19 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the linear density and the tenacity are measured using FAVIMAT fiber tensile test equipment model Favimat+ and Robot2. 
     
     
         20 . The recombinant protein fiber of  claim 1 , with the proviso that the recombinant fiber is not a MaSp2 dragline silk protein. 
     
     
         21 .- 28 . (canceled)