Sigma Life Science — the biological products and services research business of St. Louis-based life science and high technology company Sigma-Aldrich Corp. — and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. — a Lansing, Mich.-based developer of recombinant technologies and fibers — have signed a licensing agreement under which Kraig will use Sigma's proprietary CompoZr® Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) technology to transfer spider silk genes to silkworms with the goal of commercializing production of spider silk. Silk from spiders has been shown to have greater tensile strength and elasticity than silk from silkworms, and potential applications include biomedical products such as sutures and materials for tendon and ligament repair, ballistic textiles such as bulletproof vests, and automobile airbags.

"Sigma-Aldrich's proprietary zinc finger technologies are extremely powerful tools which enable very precise genetic targeting," said Kim Thompson, CEO, Kraig Biocraft. "We are convinced that this technology is the key to creating advanced new products and materials. We believe that when these customized tools are delivered by Sigma in the coming weeks, the technology will enable us to rapidly and precisely target specific gene sequences for the creation of stronger fibers, advanced textiles and new bio-materials."

"ZFN technology has been revolutionary in genome engineering for various applications, including animal models of disease, engineering of biopharmaceutical production systems, academic research and therapeutics," said Dr. Joseph Bedell, director, Commercial Animal Technologies Group, Sigma Life Science. "Spider silk production is just the first example of a potential commercial animal application for this exciting technology."  

April 12, 2011