Spider Silk Genetically Engineered

An anonymous reader writes "Commercial silk comes not from spiders, but from the silk moth (spiders are hard to coral). But spider silk is stronger, so engineers, including in the Army, would like to use it for armor, tethers, and clothing. Scientists at Nexia Biotechnologies bioengineered some in 2002, but in a two-step process not ready for prime time. According to a LiveScience article, a separate team has now created self-spinning spider-web fiber. More work is still needed to produce anything useful, but the researchers say it might happen within a decade."

Comments

Accessories

[pipingguy]

Is anyone working on a wrist-mounted launching device for this stuff?

Re:Accessories

[pragma_x]

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a chemist, chemical engineer or even a biologist.

Dragline silk is made primarily of two proteins, called ADF-3 and ADF-4. These are produced in a gland in the spider's abdomen, using the same amino acids that your body uses to produce skin and hair. ADF-4 allows for the rapid production of fiber, and ADF-3 regulates this production. Each protein is made by a specific gene.

Gat's team put these genes into a genetically engineered virus, then let the virus infect the cultured caterpillar cells. The cells produced silk proteins, and then spider fibers formed spontaneously in the petri dish.

Looks like the stuff might be easy to spin into silk, since it does it on a molecular level on its own. Maybe all you need is these silk protiens stored in a solvent that evaporates rapidly, stored under pressure; who knows. I suppose the result wouldn't be too unlike a can of crazy string or spider-man's wrist-mounted launching device.

Combine that with some gecko-tape gloves and shoes and you'll be fighting crime in no time.

Spider silk from goats and caterpillars

[beeplet]

Commercial silk comes not from spiders, but from the silk moth (spiders are hard to coral).

And spider silk doesn't come from spiders either - Nexia used transgenic goats (which secreted the silk proteins in their milk) and this group is using transgenic caterpillar cells. I just think this is an interesting story in the context of the recent stories on genetic chimeras. Now if they could create a transgenic animal that would actually spin the spider silk, they's be all set!

Wake me up...

[centauri]

... when I can buy a charcoal black uniform with arachnofiber weave.

Tough to "Coral"

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not so much that spiders are tough to corral compared with silkworms, it's that most spiders are incredibly territorial creatures. To raise silkworms, you just need some specimens and a few mulberry bushes- hundreds of silkworms will happily coexist on a bush, and eventually will grow up and spin the silk cocoons you're after. Put an equivalent number of spiders in the same space, even with ample food available, and they will kill and eat each other until all territorial disputes have been resolved to the satisfaction of all (living) parties.