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Schultzhaus J, Hervey J, Fears K, Spillmann C. Proteomic comparison of the organic matrices from parietal and base plates of the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite. Open Biol 2024; 14:230246. [PMID: 38806147 PMCID: PMC11293433 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Acorn barnacles are efficient colonizers on a wide variety of marine surfaces. As they proliferate on critical infrastructure, their settlement and growth have deleterious effects on performance. To address acorn barnacle biofouling, research has focused on the settlement and adhesion processes with the goal of informing the development of novel coatings. This effort has resulted in the discovery and characterization of several proteins found at the adhesive substrate interface, i.e. cement proteins, and a deepened understanding of the function and composition of the biomaterials within this region. While the adhesive properties at the interface are affected by the interaction between the proteins, substrate and mechanics of the calcified base plate, little attention has been given to the interaction between the proteins and the cuticular material present at the substrate interface. Here, the proteome of the organic matrix isolated from the base plate of the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite is compared with the chitinous and proteinaceous matrix embedded within A. amphitrite parietal plates. The objective was to gain an understanding of how the basal organic matrix may be specialized for adhesion via an in-depth comparative proteome analysis. In general, the majority of proteins identified in the parietal matrix were also found in the basal organic matrix, including nearly all those grouped in classes of cement proteins, enzymes and pheromones. However, the parietal organic matrix was enriched with cuticle-associated proteins, of which ca 30% of those identified were unique to the parietal region. In contrast, ca 30-40% of the protease inhibitors, enzymes and pheromones identified in the basal organic matrix were unique to this region. Not unexpectedly, nearly 50% of the cement proteins identified in the basal region were significantly distinct from those found in the parietal region. The wider variety of identified proteins in the basal organic matrix indicates a greater diversity of biological function in the vicinity of the substrate interface where several processes related to adhesion, cuticle formation and expansion of the base synchronize to play a key role in organism survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Schultzhaus
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Judson Hervey
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kenan Fears
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher Spillmann
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
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2
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Lee WK, Chan BKK, Kim JY, Ju SJ, Kim SJ. Comparative genomics reveals the dynamic evolutionary history of cement protein genes of barnacles from intertidal to deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13895. [PMID: 37955198 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Thoracican barnacles are a diverse group of marine organisms for which the availability of genome assemblies is currently limited. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of two neolepadoid species (Ashinkailepas kermadecensis, Imbricaverruca yamaguchii) from hydrothermal vents, in addition to two intertidal species. Genome sizes ranged from 481 to 1054 Mb, with repetitive sequence contents of 21.2% to 50.7%. Concordance rates of orthologs and heterozygosity rates were between 82.4% and 91.7% and between 1.0% and 2.1%, respectively, indicating high genetic diversity and heterozygosity. Based on phylogenomic analyses, we revised the nomenclature of cement genes encoding cement proteins that are not homologous to any known proteins. The major cement gene, CP100A, was found in all thoracican species, including vent-associated neolepadoids, and was hypothesised to be essential for thoracican settlement. Duplicated genes, CP100B and CP100C, were found only in balanids, suggesting potential functional redundancy or acquisition of new functions associated with the calcareous base. An ancestor of CP52 genes was duplicated dynamically among lepadids, pollicipedids with multiple copies on a single scaffold, and balanids with multiple sequential repeats of the conserved regions, but no CP52 genes were found in neolepadoids, providing insights into cement gene evolution among thoracican lineages. This study enhances our understanding of the adhesion mechanisms of thoracicans in underwater environments. The newly sequenced genomes provide opportunities for studying their evolution and ecology, shedding light on their adaptation to diverse marine environments, and contributing to our knowledge of barnacle biology with valuable genomic resources for further studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Kyung Lee
- Division of Biomedical Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Benny K K Chan
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jae-Yoon Kim
- Division of Biomedical Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Se-Jong Ju
- Marine Resources & Environment Research Division, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan, Korea
| | - Se-Joo Kim
- Division of Biomedical Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
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3
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Rothbächer U. Ascidian gene regulation and bioadhesion. Genesis 2023; 61:e23572. [PMID: 38009987 PMCID: PMC10909405 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ute Rothbächer
- Research unit Evolutionary Developmental BiologyInstitute of Zoology, University InnsbruckAustria
- Detachement CNRSMarseilleFrance
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4
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Thomas J, Gorb SN, Büscher TH. Characterization of Morphologically Distinct Components in the Tarsal Secretion of Medauroidea extradentata (Phasmatodea) Using Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:439. [PMID: 37754190 PMCID: PMC10526352 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8050439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment to the substrate is an important phenomenon that determines the survival of many organisms. Most insects utilize wet adhesion to support attachment, which is characterized by fluids that are secreted into the interface between the tarsus and the substrates. Previous research has investigated the composition and function of tarsal secretions of different insect groups, showing that the secretions are likely viscous emulsions that contribute to attachment by generating capillary and viscous adhesion, leveling surface roughness and providing self-cleaning of the adhesive systems. Details of the structural organization of these secretions are, however, largely unknown. Here, we analyzed footprints originating from the arolium and euplantulae of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata using cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) and white light interferometry (WLI). The secretion was investigated with cryo-SEM, revealing four morphologically distinguishable components. The 3D WLI measurements of the droplet shapes and volumes over time revealed distinctly different evaporation rates for different types of droplets. Our results indicate that the subfunctionalization of the tarsal secretion is facilitated by morphologically distinct components, which are likely a result of different proportions of components within the emulsion. Understanding these components and their functions may aid in gaining insights for developing adaptive and multifunctional biomimetic adhesive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Thomas
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany; (S.N.G.); (T.H.B.)
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5
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Tilbury MA, Tran TQ, Shingare D, Lefevre M, Power AM, Leclère P, Wall JG. Self-assembly of a barnacle cement protein into intertwined amyloid fibres and determination of their adhesive and viscoelastic properties. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230332. [PMID: 37553991 PMCID: PMC10410215 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The stalked barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes uses a multi-protein cement to adhere to highly varied substrates in marine environments. We investigated the morphology and adhesiveness of a component 19 kDa protein in barnacle cement gland- and seawater-like conditions, using transmission electron microscopy and state-of-the art scanning probe techniques. The protein formed amyloid fibres after 5 days in gland-like but not seawater conditions. After 7-11 days, the fibres self-assembled under gland-like conditions into large intertwined fibrils of up to 10 µm in length and 200 nm in height, with a distinctive twisting of fibrils evident after 11 days. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-nanodynamic mechanical analysis of the protein in wet conditions determined E' (elasticity), E'' (viscosity) and tan δ values of 2.8 MPa, 1.2 MPa and 0.37, respectively, indicating that the protein is a soft and viscoelastic material, while the adhesiveness of the unassembled protein and assembled fibres, measured using peak force quantitative nanomechanical mapping, was comparable to that of the commercial adhesive Cell-Tak™. The study provides a comprehensive insight into the nanomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the barnacle cement protein and its self-assembled fibres under native-like conditions and may have application in the design of amyloid fibril-based biomaterials or bioadhesives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura A. Tilbury
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Thi Quynh Tran
- Laboratory for Physics of Nanomaterials and Energy, Research Institute for Materials, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Dilip Shingare
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Mathilde Lefevre
- Laboratory for Physics of Nanomaterials and Energy, Research Institute for Materials, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Anne Marie Power
- Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Philippe Leclère
- Laboratory for Physics of Nanomaterials and Energy, Research Institute for Materials, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - J. Gerard Wall
- Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Chen T, Ren C, Wong NK, Yan A, Sun C, Fan D, Luo P, Jiang X, Zhang L, Ruan Y, Li J, Wu X, Huo D, Huang J, Li X, Wu F, E Z, Cheng C, Zhang X, Wang Y, Hu C. The Holothuria leucospilota genome elucidates sacrificial organ expulsion and bioadhesive trap enriched with amyloid-patterned proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213512120. [PMID: 37036994 PMCID: PMC10120082 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213512120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Some tropical sea cucumbers of the family Holothuriidae can efficiently repel or even fatally ensnare predators by sacrificially ejecting a bioadhesive matrix termed the Cuvierian organ (CO), so named by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier who first described it in 1831. Still, the precise mechanisms for how adhesiveness genetically arose in CO and how sea cucumbers perceive and transduce danger signals for CO expulsion during defense have remained unclear. Here, we report the first high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of Holothuria leucospilota, an ecologically significant sea cucumber with prototypical CO. The H. leucospilota genome reveals characteristic long-repeat signatures in CO-specific outer-layer proteins, analogous to fibrous proteins of disparate species origins, including spider spidroin and silkworm fibroin. Intriguingly, several CO-specific proteins occur with amyloid-like patterns featuring extensive intramolecular cross-β structures readily stainable by amyloid indicator dyes. Distinct proteins within the CO connective tissue and outer surface cooperate to give the expelled matrix its apparent tenacity and adhesiveness, respectively. Genomic evidence offers further hints that H. leucospilota directly transduces predator-induced mechanical pressure onto the CO surface through mediation by transient receptor potential channels, which culminates in acetylcholine-triggered CO expulsion in part or in entirety. Evolutionarily, innovative events in two distinct regions of the H. leucospilota genome have apparently spurred CO's differentiation from the respiratory tree to a lethal defensive organ against predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Chunhua Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Nai-Kei Wong
- Clinical Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou515041, China
| | - Aifen Yan
- School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan528225, China
| | - Caiyun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, China
| | - Dingding Fan
- EasyATGC Limited Liability Company, Shenzhen518081, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Xiao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Lvping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Yao Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Jiaxi Li
- School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan528225, China
| | - Xiaofen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Da Huo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Jiasheng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Feifei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Zixuan E
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Chuhang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Guangxi Academy of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning530007, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Yanhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou511458, China
| | - Chaoqun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510301, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Guangxi Academy of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning530007, China
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Miserez A, Yu J, Mohammadi P. Protein-Based Biological Materials: Molecular Design and Artificial Production. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2049-2111. [PMID: 36692900 PMCID: PMC9999432 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric materials produced from fossil fuels have been intimately linked to the development of industrial activities in the 20th century and, consequently, to the transformation of our way of living. While this has brought many benefits, the fabrication and disposal of these materials is bringing enormous sustainable challenges. Thus, materials that are produced in a more sustainable fashion and whose degradation products are harmless to the environment are urgently needed. Natural biopolymers─which can compete with and sometimes surpass the performance of synthetic polymers─provide a great source of inspiration. They are made of natural chemicals, under benign environmental conditions, and their degradation products are harmless. Before these materials can be synthetically replicated, it is essential to elucidate their chemical design and biofabrication. For protein-based materials, this means obtaining the complete sequences of the proteinaceous building blocks, a task that historically took decades of research. Thus, we start this review with a historical perspective on early efforts to obtain the primary sequences of load-bearing proteins, followed by the latest developments in sequencing and proteomic technologies that have greatly accelerated sequencing of extracellular proteins. Next, four main classes of protein materials are presented, namely fibrous materials, bioelastomers exhibiting high reversible deformability, hard bulk materials, and biological adhesives. In each class, we focus on the design at the primary and secondary structure levels and discuss their interplays with the mechanical response. We finally discuss earlier and the latest research to artificially produce protein-based materials using biotechnology and synthetic biology, including current developments by start-up companies to scale-up the production of proteinaceous materials in an economically viable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Miserez
- Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore637553.,School of Biological Sciences, NTU, Singapore637551
| | - Jing Yu
- Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore637553.,Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), NTU, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore637553
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, UusimaaFI-02044, Finland
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Glycoproteins Involved in Sea Urchin Temporary Adhesion. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21030145. [PMID: 36976195 PMCID: PMC10057474 DOI: 10.3390/md21030145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical adhesives, despite having been used increasingly in recent years, still face a major technological challenge: strong adhesion in wet environments. In this context, biological adhesives secreted by marine invertebrates have appealing characteristics to incorporate into new underwater biomimetic adhesives: water resistance, nontoxicity and biodegradability. Little is still known about temporary adhesion. Recently, a transcriptomic differential analysis of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus tube feet pinpointed 16 adhesive/cohesive protein candidates. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the adhesive secreted by this species is composed of high molecular weight proteins associated with N-Acetylglucosamine in a specific chitobiose arrangement. As a follow-up, we aimed to investigate which of these adhesive/cohesive protein candidates were glycosylated through lectin pulldowns, protein identification by mass spectroscopy and in silico characterization. We demonstrate that at least five of the previously identified protein adhesive/cohesive candidates are glycoproteins. We also report the involvement of a third Nectin variant, the first adhesion-related protein to be identified in P. lividus. By providing a deeper characterization of these adhesive/cohesive glycoproteins, this work advances our understanding of the key features that should be replicated in future sea urchin-inspired bioadhesives.
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Wu BCH, Sauman I, Maaroufi HO, Zaloudikova A, Zurovcova M, Kludkiewicz B, Hradilova M, Zurovec M. Characterization of silk genes in Ephestia kuehniella and Galleria mellonella revealed duplication of sericin genes and highly divergent sequences encoding fibroin heavy chains. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1023381. [DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1023381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk is a secretory product of numerous arthropods with remarkable mechanical properties. In this work, we present the complete sequences of the putative major silk proteins of E. kuehniella and compare them with those of G. mellonella, which belongs to the same moth family Pyralidae. To identify the silk genes of both species, we combined proteomic analysis of cocoon silk with a homology search in transcriptomes and genomic sequences to complement the information on both species. We analyzed structure of the candidate genes obtained, their expression specificity and their evolutionary relationships. We demonstrate that the silks of E. kuehniella and G. mellonella differ in their hydrophobicity and that the silk of E. kuehniella is highly hygroscopic. In our experiments, we show that the number of genes encoding sericins is higher in G. mellonella than in E. kuehniella. By analyzing the synteny of the chromosomal segment encoding sericin genes in both moth species, we found that the region encoding sericins is duplicated in G. mellonella. Finally, we present the complete primary structures of nine fibH genes and proteins from both families of the suborder Pyraloidea and discuss their specific and conserved features. This study provides a foundation for future research on the evolution of silk proteins and lays the groundwork for future detailed functional studies.
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The Involvement of Cell-Type-Specific Glycans in Hydra Temporary Adhesion Revealed by a Lectin Screen. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 7:biomimetics7040166. [PMID: 36278723 PMCID: PMC9589958 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7040166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydra is a freshwater solitary polyp, capable of temporary adhesion to underwater surfaces. The reversible attachment is based on an adhesive material that is secreted from its basal disc cells and left behind on the substrate as a footprint. Despite Hydra constituting a standard model system in stem cell biology and tissue regeneration, few studies have addressed its bioadhesion. This project aimed to characterize the glycan composition of the Hydra adhesive, using a set of 23 commercially available lectins to label Hydra cells and footprints. The results indicated the presence of N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, fucose, and mannose in the adhesive material. The labeling revealed a meshwork-like substructure in the footprints, implying that the adhesive is mainly formed by fibers. Furthermore, lectins might serve as a marker for Hydra cells and structures, e.g., many labeled as glycan-rich nematocytes. Additionally, some unexpected patterns were uncovered, such as structures associated with radial muscle fibers and endodermal gland cells in the hypostome of developing buds.
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Yuan J, Zhang X, Li S, Liu C, Yu Y, Zhang X, Xiang J, Li F. Convergent evolution of barnacles and molluscs sheds lights in origin and diversification of calcareous shell and sessile lifestyle. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221535. [PMID: 36100022 PMCID: PMC9470267 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The calcareous shell and sessile lifestyle are the representative phenotypes of many molluscs, which happen to be present in barnacles, a group of unique crustaceans. The origin of these phenotypes is unclear, but it may be embodied in the convergent genetics of such distant groups (interphylum). Herein, we perform comprehensive comparative genomics analysis in barnacles and molluscs, and reveal a genome-wide strong convergent molecular evolution between them, including coexpansion of biomineralization and organic matrix genes for shell formation, and origination of lineage-specific orphan genes for settlement. Notably, the expanded biomineralization gene encoding alkaline phosphatase evolves a novel, highly conserved motif that may trigger the origin of barnacle shell formation. Unlike molluscs, barnacles adopt novel organic matrices and cement proteins for shell formation and settlement, respectively, and their calcareous shells have potentially originated from the cuticle system of crustaceans. Therefore, our study corroborates the idea that selection pressures driving convergent evolution may strongly act in organisms inhabiting similar environments regardless of phylogenetic distance. The convergence signatures shed light on the origin of the shell and sessile lifestyle of barnacles and molluscs. In addition, notable non-convergence signatures are also present and may contribute to morphological and functional specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Yuan
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Zhang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihao Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengzhang Liu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhai Xiang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuhua Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
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12
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Cui C, Tang X, Xing J, Sheng X, Chi H, Zhan W. Single-cell RNA-seq uncovered hemocyte functional subtypes and their differentiational characteristics and connectivity with morphological subpopulations in Litopenaeus vannamei. Front Immunol 2022; 13:980021. [PMID: 36177045 PMCID: PMC9513592 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.980021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemocytes play central roles in shrimp immune system, whereas whose subclasses have not yet been completely defined. At present, the morphological classification of hemocytes is inadequate to classify the complete hemocyte repertoire and elucidate the functions and differentiation and maturation processes. Based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of hemocytes in healthy Litopenaeus vannamei, combined with RNA-FISH and flow cytometric sorting, we identified three hemocyte clusters including TGase+ cells, CTL+ cells and Crustin+ cells, and further determined their functional properties, potential differentiation trajectory and correspondence with morphological subpopulations. The TGase+ cells were mainly responsible for the coagulation, exhibiting distinguishable characteristics of hyalinocyte, and appeared to be developmentally arrested at an early stage of hemocyte differentiation. The CTL+ cells and Crustin+ cells arrested at terminal stages of differentiation mainly participated in recognizing foreign pathogens and initiating immune defense responses, owning distinctive features of granule-containing hemocytes. Furthermore, we have revealed the functional sub-clusters of three hemocyte clusters and their potential differentiation pathways according to the expression of genes involved in cell cycle, cell differentiation and immune response, and the successive differentiation and maturation of hyalinocytes to granule-containing hemocytes have also mapped. The results revealed the diversity of shrimp hemocytes and provide new theoretical rationale for hemocyte classification, which also facilitate systematic research on crustacean immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Cui
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoqian Tang
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Jing Xing
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiuzhen Sheng
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Heng Chi
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenbin Zhan
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunology of Aquatic Animals, The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education (KLMME), Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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13
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Algrain M, Hennebert E, Bertemes P, Wattiez R, Flammang P, Lengerer B. In the footsteps of sea stars: deciphering the catalogue of proteins involved in underwater temporary adhesion. Open Biol 2022; 12:220103. [PMID: 35975651 PMCID: PMC9382459 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea stars adhere strongly but temporarily to underwater substrata via the secretion of a blend of proteins, forming an adhesive footprint that they leave on the surface after detachment. Their tube feet enclose a duo-gland adhesive system comprising two types of adhesive cells, contributing different layers of the footprint and de-adhesive cells. In this study, we characterized the catalogue of sea star footprint proteins (Sfps) in the species Asterias rubens to gain insights in their potential function. We identified 16 Sfps and mapped their expression to type 1 and/or type 2 adhesive cells or to de-adhesive cells by double fluorescent in situ hybridization. Based on their cellular expression pattern and their conserved functional domains, we propose that the identified Sfps serve different functions during attachment, with two Sfps coupling to the surface, six providing cohesive strength and the rest forming a binding matrix. Immunolabelling of footprints with antibodies directed against one protein of each category confirmed these roles. A de-adhesive gland cell-specific astacin-like proteinase presumably weakens the bond between the adhesive material and the tube foot surface during detachment. Overall, we provide a model for temporary adhesion in sea stars, including a comprehensive list of the proteins involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Algrain
- Laboratory of Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons 7000, Belgium
| | - Elise Hennebert
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons 7000, Belgium
| | - Philip Bertemes
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons 7000, Belgium
| | - Patrick Flammang
- Laboratory of Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, Mons 7000, Belgium
| | - Birgit Lengerer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
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14
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Sticking Together an Updated Model for Temporary Adhesion. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20060359. [PMID: 35736161 PMCID: PMC9229212 DOI: 10.3390/md20060359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-parasitic flatworms are known to temporarily attach to the substrate by secreting a multicomponent bioadhesive to counteract water movements. However, to date, only species of two higher-level flatworm taxa (Macrostomorpha and Proseriata) have been investigated for their adhesive proteins. Remarkably, the surface-binding protein is not conserved between flatworm taxa. In this study, we sequenced and assembled a draft genome, as well as a transcriptome, and generated a tail-specific positional RNA sequencing dataset of the polyclad Theama mediterranea. This led to the identification of 15 candidate genes potentially involved in temporary adhesion. Using in situ hybridisation and RNA interference, we determined their expression and function. Of these 15 genes, 4 are homologues of adhesion-related genes found in other flatworms. With this work, we provide two novel key components on the flatworm temporary adhesion system. First, we identified a Kringle-domain-containing protein (Tmed-krg1), which was expressed exclusively in the anchor cell. This in silico predicted membrane-bound Tmed-krg1 could potentially bind to the cohesive protein, and a knockdown led to a non-adhesive phenotype. Secondly, a secreted tyrosinase (Tmed-tyr1) was identified, which might crosslink the adhesive proteins. Overall, our findings will contribute to the future development of reversible synthetic glues with desirable properties for medical and industrial applications.
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15
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Decoding the byssus fabrication by spatiotemporal secretome analysis of scallop foot. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2713-2722. [PMID: 35685371 PMCID: PMC9168380 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The first secretome about scallop byssal adhesion is profiled based on a new computational strategy. Scallop byssal secretome covered almost all of the known structural elements and functional domains of aquatic adhesives. The EGF-like domain containing proteins, the Tyr-rich proteins and 4C-repeats containing proteins are the main components of scallop byssus. A novel “nearby secretion” model of scallop byssus secretion and adhesion is proposed.
Secretome is involved in almost all physiological, developmental, and pathological processes, but to date there is still a lack of highly-efficient research strategy to comprehensively study the secretome of invertebrates. Adhesive secretion is a ubiquitous and essential physiological process in aquatic invertebrates with complicated protein components and unresolved adhesion mechanisms, making it a good subject for secretome profiling studies. Here we proposed a computational pipeline for systematic profiling of byssal secretome based on spatiotemporal transcriptomes of scallop. A total of 186 byssus-related proteins (BRPs) were identified, which represented the first characterized secretome of scallop byssal adhesion. Scallop byssal secretome covered almost all of the known structural elements and functional domains of aquatic adhesives, which suggested this secretome-profiling strategy had both high efficiency and accuracy. We revealed the main components of scallop byssus (including EGF-like domain containing proteins, the Tyr-rich proteins and 4C-repeats containing proteins) and the related modification enzymes primarily contributing to the rapid byssus assembly and adhesion. Spatiotemporal expression and co-expression network analyses of BRPs suggested a simultaneous secretion pattern of scallop byssal proteins across the entire region of foot and revealed their diverse functions on byssus secretion. In contrast to the previously proposed “root-initiated secretion and extension-based assembly” model, our findings supported a novel “foot-wide simultaneous secretion and in situ assembly” model of scallop byssus secretion and adhesion. Systematic analysis of scallop byssal secretome provides important clues for understanding the aquatic adhesive secretion process, as well as a common framework for studying the secretome of non-model invertebrates.
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16
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Comparative proteomics for an in-depth understanding of bioadhesion mechanisms and evolution across metazoans. J Proteomics 2022; 256:104506. [PMID: 35123052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2022.104506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bioadhesion is a critical process for many marine and freshwater invertebrate animals. Bioadhesives mainly made of proteins have remarkable adhesive ability underwater. Unraveling the molecular composition of bioadhesives is fundamental to understanding their physiological roles as well as their potential for biotechnology applications and antibiofouling strategies. With the development of high-throughput methods such as proteomics, bioadhesive protein data in diverse taxa are rapidly accumulating, but the common mechanism across species is elusive due to the vast variety of bioadhesives. In this review, bioadhesive proteins from various taxa are reviewed, with the aim of facilitating researchers to appreciate the diversity of bioadhesive proteins (mostly 20-40) across species. By comparing proteomes across species, it was found that glycine-rich, epidermal growth factor, peroxidase, and DOPA together with typical extracellular domains are the most commonly used domains. Additionally, permanent and temporary adhesion show obvious differences in terms of domains or proteins. A basic recipe for bioadhesives composed of six components is proposed: structural elements, extracellular domains, modification enzymes, proteinase inhibitors, cytoskeletal proteins, and others. The extracellular domains are mostly related to interactions with other macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids), suggesting that domain shuffling and macromolecule interaction might be fundamental for bioadhesive evolution.
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17
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Exploration of sea anemone-inspired high-performance biomaterials with enhanced antioxidant activity. Bioact Mater 2021; 10:504-514. [PMID: 34901563 PMCID: PMC8637015 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antioxidant biomaterials have attracted much attention in various biomedical fields because of their effective inhibition and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pathological tissues. However, the difficulty in ensuring biocompatibility, biodegradability and bioavailability of antioxidant materials has limited their further development. Novel bioavailable antioxidant materials that are derived from natural resources are urgently needed. Here, an integrated multi-omics method was applied to fabricate antioxidant biomaterials. A key cysteine-rich thrombospondin-1 type I repeat-like (TSRL) protein was efficiently discovered from among 1262 adhesive components and then used to create a recombinant protein with a yield of 500 mg L-1. The biocompatible TSRL protein was able to self-assemble into either a water-resistant coating through Ca2+-mediated coordination or redox-responsive hydrogels with tunable physical properties. The TSRL-based hydrogels showed stronger 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rates than glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (Aa) and protected cells against external oxidative stress significantly more effectively. When topically applied to mice skin, TSRL alleviated epidermal hyperplasia and suppressed the degradation of collagen and elastic fibers caused by ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) irradiation, confirming that it enhanced antioxidant activity in vivo. This is the first study to successfully characterize natural antioxidant biomaterials created from marine invertebrate adhesives, and the findings indicate the excellent prospects of these biomaterials for great applications in tissue regeneration and cosmeceuticals.
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18
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Cleverley R, Webb D, Middlemiss S, Duke P, Clare A, Okano K, Harwood C, Aldred N. In Vitro Oxidative Crosslinking of Recombinant Barnacle Cyprid Cement Gland Proteins. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 23:928-942. [PMID: 34714445 PMCID: PMC8639568 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-021-10076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Barnacle adhesion is a focus for fouling-control technologies as well as the development of bioinspired adhesives, although the mechanisms remain very poorly understood. The barnacle cypris larva is responsible for surface colonisation. Cyprids release cement from paired glands that contain proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, although further compositional details are scant. Several genes coding for cement gland-specific proteins were identified, but only one of these showed database homology. This was a lysyl oxidase-like protein (lcp_LOX). LOX-like enzymes have been previously identified in the proteome of adult barnacle cement secretory tissue. We attempted to produce recombinant LOX in E. coli, in order to identify its role in cyprid cement polymerisation. We also produced two other cement gland proteins (lcp3_36k_3B8 and lcp2_57k_2F5). lcp2_57k_2F5 contained 56 lysine residues and constituted a plausible substrate for LOX. While significant quantities of soluble lcp3_36k_3B8 and lcp2_57k_2F5 were produced in E. coli, production of stably soluble lcp_LOX failed. A commercially sourced human LOX catalysed the crosslinking of lcp2_57k_2F5 into putative dimers and trimers, and this reaction was inhibited by lcp3_36k_3B8. Inhibition of the lcp_LOX:lcp2_57k_2F5 reaction by lcp3_36k_3B8 appeared to be substrate specific, with no inhibitory effect on the oxidation of cadaverine by LOX. The results demonstrate a possible curing mechanism for barnacle cyprid cement and, thus, provide a basis for a more complete understanding of larval adhesion for targeted control of marine biofouling and adhesives for niche applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Cleverley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - David Webb
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Stuart Middlemiss
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Phillip Duke
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Anthony Clare
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Keiju Okano
- Department of Biotechnology, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Colin Harwood
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Nick Aldred
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
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19
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(Un)expected Similarity of the Temporary Adhesive Systems of Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater Flatworms. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212228. [PMID: 34830109 PMCID: PMC8621496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many free-living flatworms have evolved a temporary adhesion system, which allows them to quickly attach to and release from diverse substrates. In the marine Macrostomum lignano, the morphology of the adhesive system and the adhesion-related proteins have been characterised. However, little is known about how temporary adhesion is performed in other aquatic environments. Here, we performed a 3D reconstruction of the M. lignano adhesive organ and compared it to the morphology of five selected Macrostomum, representing two marine, one brackish, and two freshwater species. We compared the protein domains of the two adhesive proteins, as well as an anchor cell-specific intermediate filament. We analysed the gene expression of these proteins by in situ hybridisation and performed functional knockdowns with RNA interference. Remarkably, there are almost no differences in terms of morphology, protein regions, and gene expression based on marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats. This implies that glue components produced by macrostomids are conserved among species, and this set of two-component glue functions from low to high salinity. These findings could contribute to the development of novel reversible biomimetic glues that work in all wet environments and could have applications in drug delivery systems, tissue adhesives, or wound dressings.
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20
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Schultzhaus JN, Hervey WJ, Taitt CR, So CR, Leary DH, Wahl KJ, Spillmann CM. Comparative analysis of stalked and acorn barnacle adhesive proteomes. Open Biol 2021; 11:210142. [PMID: 34404232 PMCID: PMC8371367 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Barnacles interest the scientific community for multiple reasons: their unique evolutionary trajectory, vast diversity and economic impact—as a harvested food source and also as one of the most prolific macroscopic hard biofouling organisms. A common, yet novel, trait among barnacles is adhesion, which has enabled a sessile adult existence and global colonization of the oceans. Barnacle adhesive is primarily composed of proteins, but knowledge of how the adhesive proteome varies across the tree of life is unknown due to a lack of genomic information. Here, we supplement previous mass spectrometry analyses of barnacle adhesive with recently sequenced genomes to compare the adhesive proteomes of Pollicipes pollicipes (Pedunculata) and Amphibalanus amphitrite (Sessilia). Although both species contain the same broad protein categories, we detail differences that exist between these species. The barnacle-unique cement proteins show the greatest difference between species, although these differences are diminished when amino acid composition and glycosylation potential are considered. By performing an in-depth comparison of the adhesive proteomes of these distantly related barnacle species, we show their similarities and provide a roadmap for future studies examining sequence-specific differences to identify the proteins responsible for functional differences across the barnacle tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna N Schultzhaus
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William Judson Hervey
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chris R Taitt
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chris R So
- Chemistry Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dagmar H Leary
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kathryn J Wahl
- Chemistry Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher M Spillmann
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
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21
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Comparison of Silks from Pseudoips prasinana and Bombyx mori Shows Molecular Convergence in Fibroin Heavy Chains but Large Differences in Other Silk Components. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158246. [PMID: 34361011 PMCID: PMC8347419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lepidopteran larvae produce silk feeding shelters and cocoons to protect themselves and the developing pupa. As caterpillars evolved, the quality of the silk, shape of the cocoon, and techniques in forming and leaving the cocoon underwent a number of changes. The silk of Pseudoips prasinana has previously been studied using X-ray analysis and classified in the same category as that of Bombyx mori, suggesting that silks of both species have similar properties despite their considerable phylogenetic distance. In the present study, we examined P. prasinana silk using 'omics' technology, including silk gland RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and a mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of cocoon proteins. We found that although the central repetitive amino acid sequences encoding crystalline domains of fibroin heavy chain molecules are almost identical in both species, the resulting fibers exhibit quite different mechanical properties. Our results suggest that these differences are most probably due to the higher content of fibrohexamerin and fibrohexamerin-like molecules in P. prasinana silk. Furthermore, we show that whilst P. prasinana cocoons are predominantly made of silk similar to that of other Lepidoptera, they also contain a second, minor silk type, which is present only at the escape valve.
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22
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Mercedes B, Stellwagen SD. The Ties that Stick: Challenges and future promise in the field of bioadhesives. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1406-1410. [PMID: 34114617 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioadhesives are wet or dry polymeric compounds that rely upon physical and chemical properties to generate characteristic sticky forces. The past decade has seen a rapidly evolving field of research around the functions, genetics, biochemistry, and mimetics of bioadhesives, but challenges unique to this research area continue to arise. We polled the presenters of SICB Symposium #8 to describe the "Ties that Stick:" challenges and exciting prospects that most resonated with their research pursuits. Themes that emerged from the poll included difficulties working with adhesive-producing organisms, field inherent knowledge gaps in theoretical modeling, molecular interactions, technology, and the interdisciplinary rigor of the bioadhesives field. We address each challenge with a discussion of the opportunities and applications presented by bioadhesives research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burns Mercedes
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250 USA
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23
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Domínguez-Pérez D, Almeida D, Wissing J, Machado AM, Jänsch L, Antunes A, Castro LF, Vasconcelos V, Campos A, Cunha I. Proteogenomic Characterization of the Cement and Adhesive Gland of the Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacle Lepas anatifera. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073370. [PMID: 33806079 PMCID: PMC8037658 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We focus on the stalked goose barnacle L. anatifera adhesive system, an opportunistic less selective species for the substrate, found attached to a variety of floating objects at seas. Adhesion is an adaptative character in barnacles, ensuring adequate positioning in the habitat for feeding and reproduction. The protein composition of the cement multicomplex and adhesive gland was quantitatively studied using shotgun proteomic analysis. Overall, 11,795 peptide sequences were identified in the gland and 2206 in the cement, clustered in 1689 and 217 proteinGroups, respectively. Cement specific adhesive proteins (CPs), proteases, protease inhibitors, cuticular and structural proteins, chemical cues, and many unannotated proteins were found, among others. In the cement, CPs were the most abundant (80.5%), being the bulk proteins CP100k and -52k the most expressed of all, and CP43k-like the most expressed interfacial protein. Unannotated proteins comprised 4.7% of the cement proteome, ranking several of them among the most highly expressed. Eight of these proteins showed similar physicochemical properties and amino acid composition to known CPs and classified through Principal Components Analysis (PCA) as new CPs. The importance of PCA on the identification of unannotated non-conserved adhesive proteins, whose selective pressure is on their relative amino acid abundance, was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dany Domínguez-Pérez
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Daniela Almeida
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Josef Wissing
- Cellular Proteomics Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (J.W.); (L.J.)
| | - André M. Machado
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Cellular Proteomics Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (J.W.); (L.J.)
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Filipe Castro
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vitor Vasconcelos
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Campos
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Isabel Cunha
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua General Norton de Matos s/n, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (D.D.-P.); (D.A.); (A.M.M.); (A.A.); (L.F.C.); (V.V.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-22-340-1800; Fax: +351-22-339-0608
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