Chongqing - Scientists from Southwest University, China, have made a groundbreaking discovery that paves the way for the development of artificial spider silk.

This study was published in Nature Communications. The findings offer significant potential for wide-ranging applications in military, medical, and other fields.

Once artificial spider silk is no longer a dream, many production fields will face the fiber revolution. (Photo/ Canva)

Spider silk, a valuable tool in the arsenal of Spiderman, has exceptional mechanical properties and immense potential for biomimetic applications. However, its natural production is limited due to the low yield of silk from spider webs and the fact that spiders cannot be farmed like silkworms.

To address this problem, the research team focused on deciphering the molecular mechanism of spider silk production and exploring the key molecular features of silk gland development. 

They drew the first molecular map of spider silk formation using multi-omics approaches to reveal the molecular mechanism of the tri-sectional synthesis of the spider dragline fiber in the spider's major ampullate gland.

A molecular map of the tri-sectional synthesis of the dragline silk fiber by the spider major ampullate gland. (Photo/ Southwest University)

In addition, they found that spider silk and silkworm silk share a similar mechanism, despite the different raw materials and post-processing. The study revealed that spider silk proteins, organic acids, lipids, and chitin are synthesized hierarchically in the tail, sac, and duct of the spider's major ampullate gland.

To explore the universality of the basic biological functions of silk glands, the researchers compared the silk glands of the spider major ampullate gland and the silkworm silk gland using multi-dimensional omics analyses. 

They found that these two glands have evolved convergently regarding tri-sectional glandular tissue structure, homologous gene expression patterns, and protein and metabolite composition of silk fibers.

The research provides critical theoretical foundations for spider origin and evolution, the analysis of the determinants of dragline fiber performance, and the creation of spider-silk-inspired materials.