Silk proteins
The present invention provides silk proteins, as well as nucleic acids encoding these proteins. The present invention also provides recombinant cells and/or organisms which synthesize silk proteins. Silk proteins of the invention can be used for a variety of purposes such as in the manufacture of personal care products, plastics, textiles, and biomedical products.
1. A purified and/or recombinant silk polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
2. The purified and/or recombinant silk polypeptide of claim 1 which comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
3. The purified and/or recombinant silk polypeptide of claim 1 which comprises an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.
4. A process for producing a silk polypeptide, the process comprising cultivating a host cell comprising an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5, under conditions which allow expression of the polynucleotide, and recovering the expressed polypeptide.
5. A product comprising the silk polypeptide of claim 1 .
6. The product of claim 5 which is personal care product, military product, textile, plastic, or biomedical product.
7. A composition comprising a polypeptide of claim 1 and one or more acceptable carriers.
8. A silk fibre comprising a polypeptide of claim 1 .
9. The process of claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
10. The process of claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.
11. The product of claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
12. The product of claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.
13. The product of claim 6 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
14. The product of claim 6 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.
15. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
16. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.
17. The silk fibre of claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:5.
18. The silk fibre of claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is an amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:5.