Mussels produce externalized tendons called byssal threads, which collectively serve as holdfasts. Byssal threads are coated with a thin protective cuticle (5-20 qm) that shields against abrasion by sand, chemical erosion, and microbial degradation, yet is flexible enough to accommodate strains of 0.7 by the fibrous byssal core. Mfp-1 is the primary structural protein of the byssal coating. It is also used commercially as a universal cell and tissue attachment factor and is being developed as a biomimetic tether for polymer attachment to surfaces. The present proposal aims to better understand the disposition, properties, and processing of mfp-1 in the byssal coating. This is considered essential for the intelligent synthesis and use of analogues for biomedical materials applications.
Research aims i nclude 1) the immunolocalization of mfp-1 in the mottled granules of the coating and foot; 2) mapping the elemental composition with the nanomechanical properties of the coating; measurement of metal binding affinities of fp-ls from four different mussel species (Mytilus galloprovincialis, M. californianus, Modiolus modiolus and Septifer bifurcatus) using an electrochemical chelate scale, and 4) investigating metal-induced collapse kinetics in adsorbed fp-ls by quartz crystal microbalance analysis in dissipation mode. In years 3 and 4, biomimetic coatings comprised of mfp-1 with and without added metal will be fabricated in vitro by solvent evaporation, coacervation, and controlled self-assembly processes. All films will be evaluated by macro- and nanomechanical tests, and their resistance to a diverse range of biochemical, thermal, and mechanical insults will be examined.
| Martinez Rodriguez, Nadine R; Das, Saurabh; Kaufman, Yair et al. (2015) Mussel adhesive protein provides cohesive matrix for collagen type-1?. Biomaterials 51:51-7 |
| Zeng, Hongbo; Hwang, Dong Soo; Israelachvili, Jacob N et al. (2010) Strong reversible Fe3+-mediated bridging between dopa-containing protein films in water. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:12850-3 |
| Harrington, Matthew J; Masic, Admir; Holten-Andersen, Niels et al. (2010) Iron-clad fibers: a metal-based biological strategy for hard flexible coatings. Science 328:216-20 |
| Holten-Andersen, Niels; Zhao, Hua; Waite, J Herbert (2009) Stiff coatings on compliant biofibers: the cuticle of Mytilus californianus byssal threads. Biochemistry 48:2752-9 |
| Srivastava, Aasheesh; Waite, J Herbert; Stucky, Galen D et al. (2009) Fluorescence Investigations into Complex Coacervation between Polyvinylimidazole and Sodium Alginate. Macromolecules 42:2168-2176 |
| Sagert, Jason; Waite, J Herbert (2009) Hyperunstable matrix proteins in the byssus of Mytilus galloprovincialis. J Exp Biol 212:2224-36 |
| Holten-Andersen, Niels; Mates, Thomas E; Toprak, Muhammet S et al. (2009) Metals and the integrity of a biological coating: the cuticle of mussel byssus. Langmuir 25:3323-6 |
| Miserez, Ali; Schneberk, Todd; Sun, Chengjun et al. (2008) The transition from stiff to compliant materials in squid beaks. Science 319:1816-9 |
| Lin, Qi; Gourdon, Delphine; Sun, Chengjun et al. (2007) Adhesion mechanisms of the mussel foot proteins mfp-1 and mfp-3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:3782-6 |
| Sun, ChengJun; Fantner, Georg E; Adams, Jonathan et al. (2007) The role of calcium and magnesium in the concrete tubes of the sandcastle worm. J Exp Biol 210:1481-8 |
Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications
