Spider cell lines

Miao, Y., Zhang, Y., Nakagaki, K., Zhao, T., Zhao, A., Meng, Y., Nakagaki, M., Park, E.Y., Maenaka, K., 2006. Expression of spider flageUiform silk protein in Bombyx mori cell line by a novel Bac-to-Bac/BmNPV baculovirus expression system. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 71 (2), 192—199. 

The potential use of spider silk as a new biomaterial has led to the evaluation of various heterologous expression systems for the production of recombinant spider silk-like proteins [65]. Partial cDNA constructs of dragline silk protein were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli [66], mammalian cell lines (MAC-T/bovine and BHK (baby hamster kidney)/hamster) [67], insect-cell lines [68, 69], and transgenic silkworm larvae [69]. Designer synthetic genes based on Nephila clavipes spider dragline and fiagdliform protein sequences have also been expressed in E. coli... 

Grasso, A., Alema, S., Rufini, S., and Senni, M.I., 1980, black widow spider toxin-induced calcium fluxes and transmitter release in a neurosecretory cell line. Nature 283, 774-776. 

Silks are generally defined as protein polymers that are spun into fibers by some lepidoptera larvae such as silkworms, spiders, scorpions, mites, and flies [331-333]. Silk proteins are usually produced within specialized glands after biosynthesis in epithelial cells, followed by secretion into the lumen of these glands where the proteins are stored before being spun into fibers. Silks differ widely in composition, structure, and properties, depending on the specific source. The most extensively characterized silks are from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, and from spiders Nephila clavipes and Araneus diademaius). Many of the more evolutionarily advanced spiders synthesize different types of silks. Each of these different silks has a different amino acid composition and exhibits mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions reproduction as cocoon capsular stmctures, lines for prey capture, lifeline support (dragline), web constmction, and adhesion [334]. 

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