Das wertvolle Molekülarsenal einer alten Tiergruppe: Wunderwaffe Spinnengift

Venoms are widespread in the animal kingdom. Among the venomous animals, spiders are the most successful representatives and produce the most complex venoms. Based on their large biodiversity it is estimated that spiders comprise about half of all venomous animal species. However, comparatively little is known about their venoms. The development of novel methods of systems biology and biotechnology has rendered the previous impediments in spider venom research. This has not only led to a broader understanding of their evolutionary ecology, but has also had a major translational impact. Valuable molecules derived from spider venoms have been identified and are already used in the bioeconomy, particularly in the fields of biomedicine and agriculture. Furthermore, recent work has shown, that a variety of enzymes can be isolated from spider venom with potential applications in various industrial sectors.