Sticky proteins serve as glue: green mussel

1 of 1 Asian green mussel; byssus threads shown at bottom / Vishal Bhave / License

Byssus threads of the green mussel attach to a wet, solid surface due to glycosylated hydroxytryptophan in one of its adhesive proteins.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Attach >
	Permanently

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Adhesive that works underwater or on wet surfaces and is not water soluble. Adhesive that works in the body for use on teeth, bones

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

Some mussels adhere to rocks and other ocean substrates using a protein that contains an amino acid called Dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine). However, the invasive green mussel, Perna viridis, has a more complcated adhesive chemistry based on a protein with an elaborate modification of the amino acid tryptophan.

The stickiness of the green mussel's foot, especially how it works in wet environments could be mimicked to form new adhesives, including use for teeth, bones, and for repairing ships at sea that have developed cracks.

(adapted from an article at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-08/uoc--tig082709.php)

Excerpt

"The 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (Dopa)-containing proteins of mussel byssus play a critical role in wet adhesion and have inspired versatile new synthetic strategies for adhesives and coatings. Apparently, however, not all mussel adhesive proteins are beholden to Dopa chemistry. The cDNA-deduced sequence of Pvfp-1, a highly aromatic and redox active byssal coating protein in the green mussel Perna viridis, suggests that Dopa may be replaced by a post-translational modification of tryptophan. The N-terminal tryptophan-rich domain of Pvfp-1 contains 42 decapeptide repeats with the consensus sequences ATPKPW1TAW2K and APPPAW1TAW2K. A small collagen domain (18 Gly-X-Y repeats) is also present. Tandem mass spectrometry of isolated tryptic decapeptides has detected both C2-hexosylated tryptophan(W1) and C2-hexosylated hydroxytryptophan(W2), the latter of which is redox active.The UV absorbance spectrum of W2 is consistent with 7-hydroxytryptophan, which represents an intriguing new theme for bioinspired opportunistic wet adhesion." (Zhao et al. 2009:23344)

About the inspiring organism

Perna
Perna

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Adhesive that works underwater or on wet surfaces and is not water soluble. Adhesive that works in the body for use on teeth, bones.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Construction, manufacturing

Experts

Waite Research Lab
Herbert Waite
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara

References

Zhao, H; Sager, J; Hwang, DS, Waite, JH. 2009. Glycosylated hydroxytryptophan in a mussel adhesive protein from Perna viridis. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 284(35): 23344-23352.

Sticky proteins serve as glue: green mussel

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