Spider silk, a protein fiber known for its remarkable strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility, has many potential applications, ranging from biomedicine to materials science. However, the difficulties in obtaining this spider silk on a large scale have hampered its widespread application.

Traditional spider silk production has been limited by arachnids' territorial and cannibalistic nature, making large-scale farming impractical. While synthetic biology approaches based on bacteria or yeast cells have shown promise, scalability issues have remained a significant challenge. 

Taking these into account, a team of Japanese scientists has begun research to unlock the potential of spider silk from an unexpected source: tobacco plants.

Making Spider Silk from Tobacco Plants

The team, led by Keiji Numata, a Kyoto University researcher, looked into the complex world of spider silk production. Synthetic spider silk production in the lab has proven to be extremely difficult, as reproducing the precise conditions found in spiders' specialized glands is no easy task.

However, the researchers discovered hope in plant cells, specifically tobacco plant cells. These cells have a distinct advantage over bacteria or yeast in producing spider silk proteins known as spidroins. 

Plant cells, unlike their microbial counterparts, can consistently produce larger silk proteins, which are critical for maintaining the silk's unique properties.

The breakthrough came when the team discovered a previously unknown function of a section of silk proteins called the C-terminal domain. This discovery paved the way for significant improvements in silk protein quality and yield. 

By tailoring the production location within the plant cells, the researchers were able to design silk proteins that the cells secreted into the culture, increasing processing efficiency.

Read Also: Chinese Scientists Develop New Way to Spin Silk from Silkworms For Healthcare and Textile

More Sustainable, Cost-effective Spider Silk

The implications of this discovery are significant. It provides a more sustainable and cost-effective method of producing spider silk and opens the door to a wide range of potential applications. From high-performance textiles to advanced biomedical implants, the possibilities are limitless.

The researchers see even greater advancements on the horizon. They believe that by using carbon dioxide as the sole energy source for plant cell culture, silk production will become more environmentally friendly and economically viable.

In 2023, Chinese researchers made a significant breakthrough in silk production by genetically modifying silkworms. The resulting silk fiber is extraordinarily strong, outperforming even materials like Kevlar. This achievement represents yet another promising avenue for sustainable material production.

According to Marketsandmarkets, the global silk market reached more than $15 billion in 2021. Silk is in high demand in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly from China. 

Silk accounts for less than 0.2% of the global textile market, but it is produced in 60 countries around the world.

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Related Article: China's Genetically Modified Silkworms Spin Spider Silk 6x Stronger Than Kevlar