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Chen Y, Han C, Chen H, Yan J, Zhan X. The mechanisms involved in byssogenesis in Pteria penguin under different temperatures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:166894. [PMID: 37704154 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Byssus is important for marine bivalves to adhere robustly to diverse substrates and resist environmental impacts. The winged pearl oyster, Pteria penguin, can reattach or not reattach to the same environment, which leaves the development and survival of the oyster population at risk. In this study, diverse methods were employed to evaluate the byssus quality and explore the mechanism of byssus secretion at different temperatures. The results demonstrated that oysters maintained their byssus properties at different temperatures through polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) variation. They were both higher at 27 °C than at 21 °C. Furthermore, PPO activities of WB27 (31.78 U/g ± 1.50 U/g) were significantly higher than NB27, WB21, and NB21. Sectional observation revealed three types of vesicles, from which a novel vesicle might participate in byssogenesis as a putative metal storage particle. Moreover, cytoskeletal proteins may cooperate with cilia to transport byssal proteins, which then facilitate byssus formation under the regulation of upstream signals. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that protein quality control, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and cytoskeletal reorganization-related genes contributed to adaptation to temperature changes and byssus fabrication, and protection-related genes play a critical role in byssogenesis, byssus toughness, and durability. These results were utilized to create a byssogenesis mechanism model, to reveal the foot gland and vesicle types of P. penguin and provide new insights into adaptation to temperature changes and byssus fabrication in sessile bivalves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Changqing Han
- School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Hengda Chen
- School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jie Yan
- School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xin Zhan
- School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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2
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Rising A, Harrington MJ. Biological Materials Processing: Time-Tested Tricks for Sustainable Fiber Fabrication. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2155-2199. [PMID: 36508546 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve the sustainability of the materials we produce and use. Here, we explore what humans can learn from nature about how to sustainably fabricate polymeric fibers with excellent material properties by reviewing the physical and chemical aspects of materials processing distilled from diverse model systems, including spider silk, mussel byssus, velvet worm slime, hagfish slime, and mistletoe viscin. We identify common and divergent strategies, highlighting the potential for bioinspired design and technology transfer. Despite the diversity of the biopolymeric fibers surveyed, we identify several common strategies across multiple systems, including: (1) use of stimuli-responsive biomolecular building blocks, (2) use of concentrated fluid precursor phases (e.g., coacervates and liquid crystals) stored under controlled chemical conditions, and (3) use of chemical (pH, salt concentration, redox chemistry) and physical (mechanical shear, extensional flow) stimuli to trigger the transition from fluid precursor to solid material. Importantly, because these materials largely form and function outside of the body of the organisms, these principles can more easily be transferred for bioinspired design in synthetic systems. We end the review by discussing ongoing efforts and challenges to mimic biological model systems, with a particular focus on artificial spider silks and mussel-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 141 52, Sweden.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
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3
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Waite JH, Harrington MJ. Following the thread: Mytilus mussel byssus as an inspired multi-functional biomaterial. CAN J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2021-0191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 15 years, the byssus of marine mussels (Mytilus spp.) has emerged as an important model system for the bio-inspired development and synthesis of advanced polymers and adhesives. But how did these seemingly inconsequential fibers that are routinely discarded in mussel hors d’oeuvres become the focus of intense international research. In the present review, we take a historical perspective to understand this phenomenon. Our purpose is not to review the sizeable literature of mussel-inspired materials, as there are numerous excellent reviews that cover this topic in great depth. Instead, we explore how the byssus became a magnet for bio-inspired materials science, with a focus on the specific breakthroughs in the understanding of composition, structure, function, and formation of the byssus achieved through fundamental scientific investigation. Extracted principles have led to bio-inspired design of novel materials with both biomedical and technical applications, including surgical adhesives, self-healing polymers, tunable hydrogels, and even actuated composites. Continued study into the byssus of Mytilid mussels and other species will provide a rich source of inspiration for years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Herbert Waite
- Marine Sciences Institute, Lagoon Road, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Matthew J. Harrington
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
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4
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Kessler M, Elettro H, Heimgartner I, Madasu S, Brakke KA, Gallaire F, Amstad E. Everything in its right place: controlling the local composition of hydrogels using microfluidic traps. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:4572-4581. [PMID: 33146208 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00691b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many natural materials display locally varying compositions that impart unique mechanical properties to them which are still unmatched by manmade counterparts. Synthetic materials often possess structures that are well-defined on the molecular level, but poorly defined on the microscale. A fundamental difference that leads to this dissimilarity between natural and synthetic materials is their processing. Many natural materials are assembled from compartmentalized reagents that are released in well-defined and spatially confined regions, resulting in locally varying compositions. By contrast, synthetic materials are typically processed in bulk. Inspired by nature, we introduce a drop-based technique that enables the design of microstructured hydrogel sheets possessing tuneable locally varying compositions. This control in the spatial composition and microstructure is achieved with a microfluidic Hele-Shaw cell that possesses traps with varying trapping strengths to selectively immobilize different types of drops. This modular platform is not limited to the fabrication of hydrogels but can be employed for any material that can be processed into drops and solidified within them. It likely opens up new possibilities for the design of structured, load-bearing hydrogels, as well as for the next generation of soft actuators and sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kessler
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Hervé Elettro
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Heimgartner
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Soujanya Madasu
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Kenneth A Brakke
- Mathematics Department, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA
| | - François Gallaire
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esther Amstad
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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5
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Jehle F, Macías-Sánchez E, Sviben S, Fratzl P, Bertinetti L, Harrington MJ. Hierarchically-structured metalloprotein composite coatings biofabricated from co-existing condensed liquid phases. Nat Commun 2020; 11:862. [PMID: 32054841 PMCID: PMC7018715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex hierarchical structure governs emergent properties in biopolymeric materials; yet, the material processing involved remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the multi-scale structure and composition of the mussel byssus cuticle before, during and after formation to gain insight into the processing of this hard, yet extensible metal cross-linked protein composite. Our findings reveal that the granular substructure crucial to the cuticle’s function as a wear-resistant coating of an extensible polymer fiber is pre-organized in condensed liquid phase secretory vesicles. These are phase-separated into DOPA-rich proto-granules enveloped in a sulfur-rich proto-matrix which fuses during secretion, forming the sub-structure of the cuticle. Metal ions are added subsequently in a site-specific way, with iron contained in the sulfur-rich matrix and vanadium coordinated by DOPA-catechol in the granule. We posit that this hierarchical structure self-organizes via phase separation of specific amphiphilic proteins within secretory vesicles, resulting in a meso-scale structuring that governs cuticle function. The mussel byssus cuticle is a wear-resistant and extensible metalloprotein composite. Here, the authors probed the cuticle nanostructure and composition before, during and after fabrication revealing a crucial role of metal-binding proteins that self-organize via liquid-liquid phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Jehle
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Elena Macías-Sánchez
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Sanja Sviben
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Luca Bertinetti
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany. .,Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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6
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Horsch J, Wilke P, Pretzler M, Seuss M, Melnyk I, Remmler D, Fery A, Rompel A, Börner HG. Polymerizing Like Mussels Do: Toward Synthetic Mussel Foot Proteins and Resistant Glues. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:15728-15732. [PMID: 30246912 PMCID: PMC6282983 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201809587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A novel strategy to generate adhesive protein analogues by enzyme-induced polymerization of peptides is reported. Peptide polymerization relies on tyrosinase oxidation of tyrosine residues to Dopaquinones, which rapidly form cysteinyldopa-moieties with free thiols from cysteine residues, thereby linking unimers and generating adhesive polymers. The resulting artificial protein analogues show strong adsorption to different surfaces, even resisting hypersaline conditions. Remarkable adhesion energies of up to 10.9 mJ m-2 are found in single adhesion events and average values are superior to those reported for mussel foot proteins that constitute the gluing interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus Horsch
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional SystemsDepartment of ChemistryHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinBrook-Taylor-Straße 212489BerlinGermany
| | - Patrick Wilke
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional SystemsDepartment of ChemistryHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinBrook-Taylor-Straße 212489BerlinGermany
| | - Matthias Pretzler
- Universität WienFakultät für ChemieInstitut für Biophysikalische ChemieAlthanstraße 141090WienAustria
| | - Maximilian Seuss
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer PhysicsHohe Straße 601069DresdenGermany
| | - Inga Melnyk
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer PhysicsHohe Straße 601069DresdenGermany
| | - Dario Remmler
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional SystemsDepartment of ChemistryHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinBrook-Taylor-Straße 212489BerlinGermany
| | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer PhysicsHohe Straße 601069DresdenGermany
- Technische Universität DresdenChair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric MaterialsHohe Straße 601069DresdenGermany
| | - Annette Rompel
- Universität WienFakultät für ChemieInstitut für Biophysikalische ChemieAlthanstraße 141090WienAustria
| | - Hans G. Börner
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional SystemsDepartment of ChemistryHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinBrook-Taylor-Straße 212489BerlinGermany
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7
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Horsch J, Wilke P, Pretzler M, Seuss M, Melnyk I, Remmler D, Fery A, Rompel A, Börner HG. Polymerizing Like Mussels Do: Toward Synthetic Mussel Foot Proteins and Resistant Glues. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201809587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justus Horsch
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional Systems; Department of Chemistry; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
| | - Patrick Wilke
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional Systems; Department of Chemistry; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
| | - Matthias Pretzler
- Universität Wien; Fakultät für Chemie; Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie; Althanstraße 14 1090 Wien Austria
| | - Maximilian Seuss
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Hohe Straße 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Inga Melnyk
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Hohe Straße 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Dario Remmler
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional Systems; Department of Chemistry; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
| | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Hohe Straße 6 01069 Dresden Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden; Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials; Hohe Straße 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Annette Rompel
- Universität Wien; Fakultät für Chemie; Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie; Althanstraße 14 1090 Wien Austria
| | - Hans G. Börner
- Laboratory for Organic Synthesis of Functional Systems; Department of Chemistry; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Brook-Taylor-Straße 2 12489 Berlin Germany
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8
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Intertidal exposure favors the soft-studded armor of adaptive mussel coatings. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3424. [PMID: 30143627 PMCID: PMC6109138 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05952-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mussel cuticle, a thin layer that shields byssal threads from environmental exposure, is a model among high-performance coatings for being both hard and hyper-extensible. However, despite avid interest in translating its features into an engineered material, the mechanisms underlying this performance are manifold and incompletely understood. To deepen our understanding of this biomaterial, we explore here the ultrastructural, scratch-resistant, and mechanical features at the submicrometer scale and relate our observations to individual cuticular components. These investigations show that cuticle nanomechanics are governed by granular microinclusions/nanoinclusions, which, contrary to previous interpretations, are three-fold softer than the surrounding matrix. This adaptation, which is found across several related mussel species, is linked to the level of hydration and presumed to maintain bulk performance during tidal exposures. Given the interest in implementing transfer of biological principles to modern materials, these findings may have noteworthy implications for the design of durable synthetic coatings. There is interest in the development of mussel inspired materials; however, this requires an understanding of the materials. Here, the authors report on an investigation into the properties of mussel cuticle from different species that challenges conventional wisdom about particle filled composites.
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9
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Harrington MJ, Jehle F, Priemel T. Mussel Byssus Structure‐Function and Fabrication as Inspiration for Biotechnological Production of Advanced Materials. Biotechnol J 2018; 13:e1800133. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Harrington
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam14424Germany
- Department of ChemistryMcGill University801 Sherbrooke Street WestMontreal H3A 0B8QuebecCanada
| | - Franziska Jehle
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam14424Germany
| | - Tobias Priemel
- Department of ChemistryMcGill University801 Sherbrooke Street WestMontreal H3A 0B8QuebecCanada
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10
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DeMartini DG, Errico JM, Sjoestroem S, Fenster A, Waite JH. A cohort of new adhesive proteins identified from transcriptomic analysis of mussel foot glands. J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0151. [PMID: 28592662 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive attachment of marine mussels to a wide range of substrates in a high-energy, saline environment has been explored for decades and is a significant driver of bioinspired wet adhesion research. Mussel attachment relies on a fibrous holdfast known as the byssus, which is made by a specialized appendage called the foot. Multiple adhesive and structural proteins are rapidly synthesized, secreted and moulded by the foot into holdfast threads. About 10 well-characterized proteins, namely the mussel foot proteins (Mfps), the preCols and the thread matrix proteins, are reported as representing the bulk of these structures. To explore how robust this proposition is, we sequenced the transcriptome of the glandular tissues that produce and secrete the various holdfast components using next-generation sequencing methods. Surprisingly, we found around 15 highly expressed genes that have not previously been characterized, but bear key similarities to the previously defined mussel foot proteins, suggesting additional contribution to byssal function. We verified the validity of these transcripts by polymerase chain reaction, cloning and Sanger sequencing as well as confirming their presence as proteins in the byssus. These newly identified proteins greatly expand the palette of mussel holdfast biochemistry and provide new targets for investigation into bioinspired wet adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G DeMartini
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA
| | - John M Errico
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA
| | - Sebastian Sjoestroem
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA
| | - April Fenster
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA
| | - J Herbert Waite
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA
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11
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Priemel T, Degtyar E, Dean MN, Harrington MJ. Rapid self-assembly of complex biomolecular architectures during mussel byssus biofabrication. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14539. [PMID: 28262668 PMCID: PMC5343498 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-based biogenic materials provide important inspiration for the development of high-performance polymers. The fibrous mussel byssus, for instance, exhibits exceptional wet adhesion, abrasion resistance, toughness and self-healing capacity–properties that arise from an intricate hierarchical organization formed in minutes from a fluid secretion of over 10 different protein precursors. However, a poor understanding of this dynamic biofabrication process has hindered effective translation of byssus design principles into synthetic materials. Here, we explore mussel byssus assembly in Mytilus edulis using a synergistic combination of histological staining and confocal Raman microspectroscopy, enabling in situ tracking of specific proteins during induced thread formation from soluble precursors to solid fibres. Our findings reveal critical insights into this complex biological manufacturing process, showing that protein precursors spontaneously self-assemble into complex architectures, while maturation proceeds in subsequent regulated steps. Beyond their biological importance, these findings may guide development of advanced materials with biomedical and industrial relevance. Mussels attach to rocks using a byssus, which possesses unique properties of adhesion, toughness and self-healing. Here, the authors explore the fabrication process of mussel byssus demonstrating the self-assembly of specific proteins into multi-scale organized structures using artificially induced byssus threads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Priemel
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Elena Degtyar
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mason N Dean
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
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12
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Miller DR, Das S, Huang KY, Han S, Israelachvili JN, Waite JH. Mussel Coating Protein-Derived Complex Coacervates Mitigate Frictional Surface Damage. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:1121-1128. [PMID: 26618194 PMCID: PMC4642218 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The role of friction in the functional
performance of biomaterial
interfaces is widely reckoned to be critical and complicated but poorly
understood. To better understand friction forces, we investigated
the natural adaptation of the holdfast or byssus of mussels that live
in high-energy surf habitats. As the outermost covering of the byssus,
the cuticle deserves particular attention for its adaptations to frictional
wear under shear. In this study, we coacervated one of three variants
of a key cuticular component, mussel foot protein 1, mfp-1 [(1) Mytilus californianus mcfp-1, (2) rmfp-1, and (3) rmfp-1-Dopa],
with hyaluronic acid (HA) and investigated the wear protection capabilities
of these coacervates to surfaces (mica) during shear. Native mcfp-1/HA
coacervates had an intermediate coefficient of friction (μ ∼0.3)
but conferred excellent wear protection to mica with no damage from
applied loads, F⊥, as high as 300
mN (pressure, P, > 2 MPa). Recombinant rmfp-1/HA
coacervates exhibited a comparable coefficient of friction (μ
∼0.3); however, wear protection was significantly inferior
(damage at F⊥ > 60 mN) compared
with that of native protein coacervates. Wear protection of rmfp-1/HA
coacervates increased 5-fold upon addition of the surface adhesive
group 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, (Dopa). We propose a Dopa-dependent
wear protection mechanism to explain the differences in wear protection
between coacervates. Our results reveal a significant untapped potential
for coacervates in applications that require adhesion, lubrication,
and wear protection. These applications include artificial joints,
contact lenses, dental sealants, and hair and skin conditioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusty Rose Miller
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-9611, United States
| | - Saurabh Das
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-5080, United States
| | - Kuo-Ying Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-9625, United States
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-9625, United States
| | - Jacob N Israelachvili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-5080, United States
| | - J Herbert Waite
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-9625, United States
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13
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Andrade GR, Araújo JLFD, Nakamura Filho A, Guañabens ACP, Carvalho MDD, Cardoso AV. Functional Surface of the golden mussel's foot: morphology, structures and the role of cilia on underwater adhesion. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2015; 54:32-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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14
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Carrington E, Waite JH, Sarà G, Sebens KP. Mussels as a model system for integrative ecomechanics. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2014; 7:443-469. [PMID: 25195867 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010213-135049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mussels form dense aggregations that dominate temperate rocky shores, and they are key aquaculture species worldwide. Coastal environments are dynamic across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, and their changing abiotic conditions affect mussel populations in a variety of ways, including altering their investments in structures, physiological processes, growth, and reproduction. Here, we describe four categories of ecomechanical models (biochemical, mechanical, energetic, and population) that we have developed to describe specific aspects of mussel biology, ranging from byssal attachment to energetics, population growth, and fitness. This review highlights how recent advances in these mechanistic models now allow us to link them together across molecular, material, organismal, and population scales of organization. This integrated ecomechanical approach provides explicit and sometimes novel predictions about how natural and farmed mussel populations will fare in changing climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Carrington
- Department of Biology and Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250; ,
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Wang CS, Stewart RJ. Multipart Copolyelectrolyte Adhesive of the Sandcastle Worm, Phragmatopoma californica (Fewkes): Catechol Oxidase Catalyzed Curing through Peptidyl-DOPA. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:1607-17. [DOI: 10.1021/bm400251k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ching Shuen Wang
- Department
of Bioeningeering, University of Utah, 20 South 2030 East,
Room 506C, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Russell J. Stewart
- Department
of Bioeningeering, University of Utah, 20 South 2030 East,
Room 506C, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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Choi YS, Yang YJ, Yang B, Cha HJ. In vivo modification of tyrosine residues in recombinant mussel adhesive protein by tyrosinase co-expression in Escherichia coli. Microb Cell Fact 2012; 11:139. [PMID: 23095646 PMCID: PMC3533756 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In nature, mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) show remarkable adhesive properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Thus, they have been considered promising adhesive biomaterials for various biomedical and industrial applications. However, limited production of natural MAPs has hampered their practical applications. Recombinant production in bacterial cells could be one alternative to obtain useable amounts of MAPs, although additional post-translational modification of tyrosine residues into 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine (Dopa) and Dopaquinone is required. The superior properties of MAPs are mainly attributed to the introduction of quinone-derived intermolecular cross-links. To solve this problem, we utilized a co-expression strategy of recombinant MAP and tyrosinase in Escherichia coli to successfully modify tyrosine residues in vivo. Results A recombinant hybrid MAP, fp-151, was used as a target for in vivo modification, and a dual vector system of pET and pACYC-Duet provided co-expression of fp-151 and tyrosinase. As a result, fp-151 was over-expressed and mainly obtained from the soluble fraction in the co-expression system. Without tyrosinase co-expression, fp-151 was over-expressed in an insoluble form in inclusion bodies. The modification of tyrosine residues in the soluble-expressed fp-151 was clearly observed from nitroblue tetrazolium staining and liquid-chromatography-mass/mass spectrometry analyses. The purified, in vivo modified, fp-151 from the co-expression system showed approximately 4-fold higher bulk-scale adhesive strength compared to in vitro tyrosinase-treated fp-151. Conclusion Here, we reported a co-expression system to obtain in vivo modified MAP; additional in vitro tyrosinase modification was not needed to obtain adhesive properties and the in vivo modified MAP showed superior adhesive strength compared to in vitro modified protein. It is expected that this co-expression strategy will accelerate the use of functional MAPs in practical applications and can be successfully applied to prepare other Dopa/Dopaquinone-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Seong Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejon 305-764, Korea
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Microanatomy and ultrastructure of the foot of the infaunal bivalve Tegillarca granosa (Bivalvia: Arcidae). Tissue Cell 2012; 44:316-24. [PMID: 22682154 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2012.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2011] [Revised: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the morphology and ultrastructure of the foot of Tegillarca granosa was compared with the bivalves from different habitats. The sediment of habitat of T. granosa is mostly a mixture of sand (68.93%) and mud (24.12%). The foot is wedge-shaped with multiple projections on the surface and covered with ciliary tufts. The epithelial layer is simple and composed of ciliated columnar epithelia and mucous cells. Although the mucous cells are distributed mostly in the epithelial layer, they are developed even in the connective tissues and muscle layers, and the mucous cells mostly contain acidic carboxylated mucosubstances. From the TEM observation, secretory cells are classified into three types. Type A secretory cell has a goblet form and is most widely distributed among the three types. Type B secretory cell has an oval form and the secretory granule has fibrous substance. Type C secretory cell has an elongated elliptic form and membrane-bounded secretory granules. The muscle fiber bundles are composed mainly of smooth muscle fibers. The smooth muscle fibers can be divided into two types. Type A muscle fibers have evenly distributed thick microfilaments between the thin microfilaments of cytoplasm. Type B muscle fiber has cluster of condensed microfilaments in the medulla cytoplasm while the cortical cytoplasm has loose distribution of thin microfilaments.
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Park JJ, Lee JS, Lee YG, Kim JW. Micromorphology and Ultrastructure of the Foot of the Equilateral Venus <i>Gomphina veneriformis</i> (Bivalvia: Veneridae). Cell 2012. [DOI: 10.4236/cellbio.2012.11002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Lee BP, Messersmith P, Israelachvili J, Waite J. Mussel-Inspired Adhesives and Coatings. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MATERIALS RESEARCH 2011; 41:99-132. [PMID: 22058660 PMCID: PMC3207216 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-matsci-062910-100429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1043] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Mussels attach to solid surfaces in the sea. Their adhesion must be rapid, strong, and tough, or else they will be dislodged and dashed to pieces by the next incoming wave. Given the dearth of synthetic adhesives for wet polar surfaces, much effort has been directed to characterizing and mimicking essential features of the adhesive chemistry practiced by mussels. Studies of these organisms have uncovered important adaptive strategies that help to circumvent the high dielectric and solvation properties of water that typically frustrate adhesion. In a chemical vein, the adhesive proteins of mussels are heavily decorated with Dopa, a catecholic functionality. Various synthetic polymers have been functionalized with catechols to provide diverse adhesive, sealant, coating, and anchoring properties, particularly for critical biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce P. Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931;
| | - P.B. Messersmith
- Nerites Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin 53719
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201;
| | - J.N. Israelachvili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106;
| | - J.H. Waite
- Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106;
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Holten-Andersen N, Harrington MJ, Birkedal H, Lee BP, Messersmith PB, Lee KYC, Waite JH. pH-induced metal-ligand cross-links inspired by mussel yield self-healing polymer networks with near-covalent elastic moduli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:2651-5. [PMID: 21278337 PMCID: PMC3041094 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1015862108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 939] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence supports a critical role of metal-ligand coordination in many attributes of biological materials including adhesion, self-assembly, toughness, and hardness without mineralization [Rubin DJ, Miserez A, Waite JH (2010) Advances in Insect Physiology: Insect Integument and Color, eds Jérôme C, Stephen JS (Academic Press, London), pp 75-133]. Coordination between Fe and catechol ligands has recently been correlated to the hardness and high extensibility of the cuticle of mussel byssal threads and proposed to endow self-healing properties [Harrington MJ, Masic A, Holten-Andersen N, Waite JH, Fratzl P (2010) Science 328:216-220]. Inspired by the pH jump experienced by proteins during maturation of a mussel byssus secretion, we have developed a simple method to control catechol-Fe(3+) interpolymer cross-linking via pH. The resonance Raman signature of catechol-Fe(3+) cross-linked polymer gels at high pH was similar to that from native mussel thread cuticle and the gels displayed elastic moduli (G') that approach covalently cross-linked gels as well as self-healing properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Holten-Andersen
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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Harrington MJ, Masic A, Holten-Andersen N, Waite JH, Fratzl P. Iron-clad fibers: a metal-based biological strategy for hard flexible coatings. Science 2010; 328:216-20. [PMID: 20203014 PMCID: PMC3087814 DOI: 10.1126/science.1181044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 583] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The extensible byssal threads of marine mussels are shielded from abrasion in wave-swept habitats by an outer cuticle that is largely proteinaceous and approximately fivefold harder than the thread core. Threads from several species exhibit granular cuticles containing a protein that is rich in the catecholic amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) as well as inorganic ions, notably Fe3+. Granular cuticles exhibit a remarkable combination of high hardness and high extensibility. We explored byssus cuticle chemistry by means of in situ resonance Raman spectroscopy and demonstrated that the cuticle is a polymeric scaffold stabilized by catecholato-iron chelate complexes having an unusual clustered distribution. Consistent with byssal cuticle chemistry and mechanics, we present a model in which dense cross-linking in the granules provides hardness, whereas the less cross-linked matrix provides extensibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Harrington
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam 14424, Germany.
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Holten-Andersen N, Zhao H, Waite JH. Stiff coatings on compliant biofibers: the cuticle of Mytilus californianus byssal threads. Biochemistry 2009; 48:2752-9. [PMID: 19220048 PMCID: PMC2736323 DOI: 10.1021/bi900018m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
For lasting holdfast attachment, the mussel Mytilus californianus coats its byssal threads with a protective cuticle 2-5 microm thick that is 4-6 times stiffer than the underlying collagen fibers. Although cuticle hardness (0.1 GPa) and stiffness (2 GPa) resemble those observed in related mussels, a more effective dispersion of microdamage enables M. californianus byssal threads to sustain strains to almost 120% before cuticle rupture occurs. Underlying factors for the superior damage tolerance of the byssal cuticle were explored in its microarchitecture and in the cuticular protein, mcfp-1. Cuticle microstructure was distinctly granular, with granule diameters (approximately 200 nm) only a quarter of those in M. galloprovincialis cuticle, for example. Compared with homologous proteins in related mussel species, mcfp-1 from M. californianus had a similar mass (approximately 92 kDa) and number of tandemly repeated decapeptides, and contained the same post-translational modifications, namely, trans-4-hydroxyproline, trans-2,3-cis-3,4-dihydroxyproline, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa). The prominence of isoleucine in mcfp-1, however, distinguished it from homologues in other species. The complete protein sequence deduced from cDNAs for two related variants revealed a highly conserved consensus decapeptide PKISYPPTYK that is repeated 64 times and differs slightly from the consensus peptide (AKPSYPPTYK) of both M. galloprovincialis and M. edulis proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Holten-Andersen
- Biomolecular Science & Engineering Graduate Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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23
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Holten-Andersen N, Waite JH. Mussel-designed protective coatings for compliant substrates. J Dent Res 2008; 87:701-9. [PMID: 18650539 DOI: 10.1177/154405910808700808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The byssus of marine mussels has attracted attention as a paradigm of strong and versatile underwater adhesion. As the first of the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa)-containing byssal precursors to be purified, Mytilus edulis foot protein-1 (mefp-1) has been much investigated with respect to its molecular structure, physical properties, and adsorption to surfaces. Although mefp-1 undoubtedly contributes to the durability of byssus, it is not directly involved in adhesion. Rather, it provides a robust coating that is 4-5 times stiffer and harder than the byssal collagens that it covers. Protective coatings for compliant tissues and materials are highly appealing to technology, notwithstanding the conventional wisdom that coating extensibility can be increased only at the expense of hardness and stiffness. The byssal cuticle is the only known coating in which high compliance and hardness co-exist without mutual detriment; thus, the role of mefp-1 in accommodating both parameters deserves further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Holten-Andersen
- University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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24
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Silverman HG, Roberto FF. Understanding marine mussel adhesion. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2007; 9:661-81. [PMID: 17990038 PMCID: PMC2100433 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-007-9053-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 312] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2007] [Revised: 08/24/2007] [Accepted: 09/05/2007] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In addition to identifying the proteins that have a role in underwater adhesion by marine mussels, research efforts have focused on identifying the genes responsible for the adhesive proteins, environmental factors that may influence protein production, and strategies for producing natural adhesives similar to the native mussel adhesive proteins. The production-scale availability of recombinant mussel adhesive proteins will enable researchers to formulate adhesives that are water-impervious and ecologically safe and can bind materials ranging from glass, plastics, metals, and wood to materials, such as bone or teeth, biological organisms, and other chemicals or molecules. Unfortunately, as of yet scientists have been unable to duplicate the processes that marine mussels use to create adhesive structures. This study provides a background on adhesive proteins identified in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, and introduces our research interests and discusses the future for continued research related to mussel adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather G Silverman
- Biological Systems Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, USA.
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25
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Holten-Andersen N, Fantner GE, Hohlbauch S, Waite JH, Zok FW. Protective coatings on extensible biofibres. NATURE MATERIALS 2007; 6:669-72. [PMID: 17618290 DOI: 10.1038/nmat1956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2007] [Accepted: 06/04/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Formulating effective coatings for use in nano- and biotechnology poses considerable technical challenges. If they are to provide abrasion resistance, coatings must be hard and adhere well to the underlying substrate. High hardness, however, comes at the expense of extensibility. This property trade-off makes the design of coatings for even moderately compliant substrates problematic, because substrate deformation easily exceeds the strain limit of the coating. Although the highest strain capacity of synthetic fibre coatings is less than 10%, deformable coatings are ubiquitous in biological systems. With an eye to heeding the lessons of nature, the cuticular coatings of byssal threads from two species of marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Perna canaliculus, have been investigated. Consistent with their function to protect collagenous fibres in the byssal-thread core, these coatings show hardness and stiffness comparable to those of engineering plastics and yet are surprisingly extensible; the tensile failure strain of P. canaliculus cuticle is about 30% and that of M. galloprovincialis is a remarkable 70%. The difference in extensibility is attributable to the presence of deformable microphase-separated granules within the cuticle of M. galloprovincialis. The results have important implications in the design of bio-inspired extensible coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Holten-Andersen
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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26
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Sun C, Waite JH. Mapping Chemical Gradients within and along a Fibrous Structural Tissue, Mussel Byssal Threads. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:39332-6. [PMID: 16166079 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m508674200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The byssal thread of a mussel is an extraorganismic connective tissue that exhibits a striking end-to-end gradient in mechanical properties and thus provides a unique opportunity for studying how gradients are made. Mfp-1 (Mytilus foot protein-1) is a conspicuous component of the protective outer cuticle of byssal threads given its high 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) content at 10-15 mol %. Amino acid analysis of mfp-1 extracted from successive foot sections of Mytilus galloprovincialis reveals a post-translationally mediated gradient with highest Dopa levels present in mfp-1 from the accessory gland near the tip of the foot decreasing gradually toward the base. The Dopa content of successive segments of byssal threads decreases from the distal to the proximal end and thus reflects the trend of mfp-1 in the foot. Inductively coupled plasma analysis indicates that certain metal ions including iron follow the trend in Dopa along the thread. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry showed that iron, when present, was concentrated in the cuticle of the threads but sparse in the core. The axial iron gradient appears most closely correlated with the Dopa gradient. The direct incubation of mussels and byssal threads in Fe(3+) supplemented seawater showed that byssal threads are unable to sequester iron from the seawater. Instead, particulate/soluble iron is actively taken up by mussels during filter feeding and incorporated into byssal threads during their secretion. Our results suggest that mussels may exploit the interplay between Dopa and metals to tailor the different parts of threads for specific mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- ChengJun Sun
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
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27
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Murr MM, Morse DE. Fractal intermediates in the self-assembly of silicatein filaments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:11657-62. [PMID: 16091468 PMCID: PMC1187983 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0503968102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Silicateins are proteins with catalytic, structure-directing activity that are responsible for silica biosynthesis in certain sponges; they are the constituents of macroscopic protein filaments that are found occluded within the silica needles made by Tethya aurantia. Self-assembly of the silicatein monomers and oligomers is shown to form fibrous structures by a mechanism that is fundamentally different from any previously described filament-assembly process. This assembly proceeds through the formation of diffusion-limited, fractally patterned aggregates on the path to filament formation. The driving force for this self-assembly is suggested to be entropic, mediated by the interaction of hydrophobic patches on the surfaces of the silicatein subunits that are not found on highly homologous congeners that do not form filaments. Our results are consistent with a model in which silicatein monomers associate into oligomers that are stabilized by intermolecular disulfide bonds. These oligomeric units assemble into a fractal network that subsequently condenses and organizes into a filamentous structure. These results represent a potentially general mechanism for protein fiber self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith M Murr
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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Sun C, Vaccaro E, Waite JH. Oxidative stress and the mechanical properties of naturally occurring chimeric collagen-containing fibers. Biophys J 2001; 81:3590-5. [PMID: 11721019 PMCID: PMC1301813 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(01)75989-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The byssal threads of marine mussels are a fiber-reinforced composite material. Fibers are continuous, separated by matrix, and consist of chimeric collagens that encompass within the same primary protein structure domains corresponding to collagen, polyhistidine, and either elastin or dragline spider silk. The elastic modulus (stiffness) of the proximal portion of byssal threads was measured by cyclic stress-strain analysis at 50% extension. Before measurement, the threads were conditioned by various treatments, particularly agitation in aerated or nitrogen-sparged seawater. Stiffness can be permanently increased by more than two times, e.g., from 25 MPa to a maximum of 65 MPa, by simple agitation in aerated seawater. Much but not all of this stiffening can be prevented by agitation under nitrogen. Reversible strain stiffening would seem to be a useful adaptation to lower residual stresses arising from the deformation of two joined materials, i.e., distal and proximal portions with rather different elastic moduli. The permanent strain stiffening that characterizes proximal byssal threads subjected to oxidative stress is probably due to protein cross-linking. In the short term, this results in a stronger thread but at the expense of dynamic interactions between the molecules in the structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sun
- Marine Science Institute and MCDB Department, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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Waite JH. The formation of mussel byssus: anatomy of a natural manufacturing process. Results Probl Cell Differ 1992; 19:27-54. [PMID: 1289996 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-47207-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J H Waite
- College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes 19958
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Waite JH. The phylogeny and chemical diversity of quinone-tanned glues and varnishes. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. B, COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY 1990; 97:19-29. [PMID: 2123765 DOI: 10.1016/0305-0491(90)90172-p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
1. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (DOPA)-containing proteins are widely distributed throughout the animal kingdom and appear to serve chiefly as waterproof adhesives and varnishes. 2. The unique chemical and physical stability of these adhesives and varnishes is imparted by quinone-tanning, an oxidative process that leads to the polymerization of DOPA-containing and other proteins. 3. Recent advances in the biochemistry of DOPA-containing proteins suggest that most consist of tandemly repeated sequence motifs. Each motif contains DOPA, a basic amino acid (usually lysine), and abundant glycine or proline. 4. The DOPA residues undergo catechol oxidase-catalyzed conversion to o-quinones at the onset of quinone-tanning. 5. The complexity of quinone chemistry is discussed with regard to quinone-tanning.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Waite
- Marine Biology/Biochemistry Program, College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes 19958
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Abstract
Three regions of the byssus of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis L. are distinct in structural organization at the macroscopic and microscopic level and in amino acid composition. The threads that emanate from the stem at the base of the foot are divided into two regions. The proximal, elastic region has a crimped, densely staining cortex enclosing an interior matrix of spiral fibers, and its amino acid composition reflects protein heterogeneity. The more distal, rigid region has a straight, tubular cortex surrounding an inner matrix of linearly arranged bundles of fibrils and has a composition approximating pure collagen. The plaque, or disc-shaped portion, which mediates attachment to various substrates, is distinguished by a surface matrix of collagen-like fibers similar to those of the thread region and anchored on an inner spongy matrix. Compositional evidence exists for a collagenous component, a catechol-rich protein, and at least one other accessory protein in the plaque.
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Kaneda K, Wake K. Distribution and morphological characteristics of the pit cells in the liver of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 1983; 233:485-505. [PMID: 6627348 DOI: 10.1007/bf00212219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Pit cells, on which almost no further contributions have been presented since the first report by Wisse et al. (1976), are described in detail in the rat liver. These cells show several characteristic features: 1) "rod-cored vesicles", a new type of vesicular inclusion observed first in our study; 2) electron-dense granules, which we consider to arise from multivesicular bodies by the accumulation of dense material; and 3) well-developed pseudopodia. Although these features clearly differentiate pit cells from conventional lymphocytes, these two cell types display similarities (i) in a number of ultrastructural features, (ii) in the pattern of their intralobular distribution, and (iii) in their presence in the spleen and peripheral blood.
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Schultz MC. A correlated light and electron microscopic study of the structure and secretory activity of the accessory salivary glands of the marine gastropods, Conus flavidus and C. vexillum (neogastropoda, conacea). J Morphol 1983; 176:89-111. [PMID: 6854655 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1051760107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The structure and secretory activity of the accessory salivary gland in two species of Conus were examined using routine and histochemical techniques of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The composite layers of the accessory salivary gland of Conus are a luminal epithelium, fibromuscular layer, submuscular layer, and a capsule. In C. flavidus and C. vexillum, the luminal epithelium is formed by epitheliocytes and cytoplasmic processes extending from the secretory cells, whose perikarya form the submuscular layer. The processes carry secretory cell products (chiefly Golgi-derived glycoprotein) across the fibromuscular layer and terminate between epitheliocytes (at the bases of the secretory canaliculi) or beyond the surface of the epithelial cells. Conus vexillum is distinguished from C. flavidus by its high content of lipofuscin. Epitheliocytes are the only microvillated cells in the accessory salivary gland of Conus. In C. flavidus, epitheliocytes extrude secretory granules, various types of cytoplasmic blebs and clear vesicles by apocrine "pinching off." Clear vesicles are shed from the tips of microvilli. The luminal epithelial cells of C. vexillum similarly egest clear vesicles, but normally undergo additional holocrine secretion to release lipofuscin. The secretions of epitheliocytes appear to be major products of the accessory salivary gland: consideration of secretory activities by both epitheliocytes and secretory cells will therefore be necessary when directly investigating accessory salivary gland function in Conus.
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Waite JH. Evidence for a repeating 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine- and hydroxyproline-containing decapeptide in the adhesive protein of the mussel, Mytilus edulis L. J Biol Chem 1983. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)32805-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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