Interviews
News Flash
Kraig Biocraft makes DNA for spider silk proteins
29 May '18
2 min read
Courtesy: Kraig Biocraft
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, the leading developer of spider silk based fibres, has constructed genetic material or DNA encoding for spider silk proteins. With this, the company believes it should be able to reduce the customisation timeframe for new spider silk technologies by several months. The feat has been achieved by the company’s research team.
The new protocols were developed after Kraig Labs reached out to leading DNA synthesis facilities, which all stated that construction of the desired sequences would be practically impossible, due to the unique structure of spider silk proteins. Refusing to accept that answer, Kraig’s research team then took on the task directly.
Using a combination of distinct approaches, Kraig Labs successfully synthesised the highly complex set of spider silk protein construct designs. This new approach should accelerate the pace of its research and production rollout efforts, as well as reduce costs to develop new transgenics for new potential markets and applications.
The newly designed protein constructs are currently being prepared for incorporation into the company’s spider silk platform technology. Due to their construction, these new designs may have the potential to produce new silk fibres with even greater strength and flexibility than the company’s current generation of recombinant spider silk.
“The announcement is another in a long history of Kraig Labs proving the impossible, possible,” said Jon Rice, COO. “From our first transgenic silkworms, to the creation of Monster Silk and then Dragon Silk, to obtaining approvals for international expansion, the company has proven, time and time again, that we have the tenacity to reimagine what is possible. These new constructs and the ability to rapidly adapt them could open new and wider applications in military and high performance technical textile markets. Today we celebrate yet another example of how the company is changing the rules in biotech development.” (SV)
The new protocols were developed after Kraig Labs reached out to leading DNA synthesis facilities, which all stated that construction of the desired sequences would be practically impossible, due to the unique structure of spider silk proteins. Refusing to accept that answer, Kraig’s research team then took on the task directly.
Using a combination of distinct approaches, Kraig Labs successfully synthesised the highly complex set of spider silk protein construct designs. This new approach should accelerate the pace of its research and production rollout efforts, as well as reduce costs to develop new transgenics for new potential markets and applications.
The newly designed protein constructs are currently being prepared for incorporation into the company’s spider silk platform technology. Due to their construction, these new designs may have the potential to produce new silk fibres with even greater strength and flexibility than the company’s current generation of recombinant spider silk.
“The announcement is another in a long history of Kraig Labs proving the impossible, possible,” said Jon Rice, COO. “From our first transgenic silkworms, to the creation of Monster Silk and then Dragon Silk, to obtaining approvals for international expansion, the company has proven, time and time again, that we have the tenacity to reimagine what is possible. These new constructs and the ability to rapidly adapt them could open new and wider applications in military and high performance technical textile markets. Today we celebrate yet another example of how the company is changing the rules in biotech development.” (SV)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Ritesh Dodhia
Dodhia Synthetics Limited
Christian Guinet
French Textile Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (UCMTF)
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
