title: Spider genomes provide insight into composition and evolution of venom and silk.
abstract: Spiders are ecologically important predators with complex venom and extraordinarily tough silk that enables capture of large prey. Here we present the assembled genome of the social velvet spider and a draft assembly of the tarantula genome that represent two major taxonomic groups of spiders. The spider genomes are large with short exons and long introns, reminiscent of mammalian genomes. Phylogenetic analyses place spiders and ticks as sister groups supporting polyphyly of the Acari. Complex sets of venom and silk genes/proteins are identified. We find that venom genes evolved by sequential duplication, and that the toxic effect of venom is most likely activated by proteases present in the venom. The set of silk genes reveals a highly dynamic gene evolution, new types of silk genes and proteins, and a novel use of aciniform silk. These insights create new opportunities for pharmacological applications of venom and biomaterial applications of silk.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [3].
authors.forename: Kristian W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sanggaard
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2].
authors.forename: Jesper S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bechsgaard
authors.affiliation: 1] BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China [2] Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark [3].
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Research Center (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jinjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Dyrlund
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Bioinformatics Research Center (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Xuanting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Dingding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Zongze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Settepani
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ida B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Thøgersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanthournout
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Yabing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Funch
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Enghild
authors.affiliation: CLC bio, Silkeborgvej 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schauser
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Stig U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: 1] Bioinformatics Research Center (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Palle
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villesen
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark [2] Bioinformatics Research Center (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schierup
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilde
authors.affiliation: 1] BGI-Tech, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China [2] Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark [3] King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21441, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D047011:Silk / Q000235:genetics*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000235:genetics*; D013112:Spiders / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D047011:Silk; D013111:Spider Venoms; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases