Spider silk is the most exceptional protein fiber in nature in terms of mechanical properties, with a strength that is 5 to 10 times that of steel, and an elasticity that allows it to absorb three times more energy than aramid materials.Thus, it enjoys the reputation of “biological steel”. Due to its outstanding performance, it can be widely applied in military, aerospace technology, biomedicine, etc.
Spider silk fibers spun by transgenic silkworms can achieve many advantages, such as lowcost, large-scale commercialization, etc. Researchers from the College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering of DHU introduced spider silk protein genes into the DNA of silkworms, and used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology and hundreds of thousands of microinjections into fertilized eggs to express spider silk protein in the silkworm glands.
The related result, titled “High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms”, was published in the journal Matterof Cell Press, with Mi Junpeng, a doctoral student from the College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, DHU, as the first author. The corresponding authors were Professor Meng Qing from the College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, DHU, and Professor Xia Qingyou, Southwest University. The renowned academic journal Science has reported and introduced this important progress on its official website.
