Abstract

The adhesive of the sea mussel Mytilus edulis has considerable appeal as a potential medical and dental restorative material. It sticks irreversibly to wet surfaces, has high bonding strengths and is nontoxic. In view of this, the following long-term goals have been defined: 1) to determine the mechanism of adhesion, 2) to develop techniques for adhesive production, and 3) to test its behavior and performance in animal and clinical studies.
The specific aims of the present proposal are A. to complete the primary sequence determination of the adhesive protein by peptide mapping using thermolysin, chymotrypsin and pepsin for proteolysis; B. to determine what relationship the strength of mussel adhesion has to the extent of proline and tyrosine hydroxylation in the protein. To do this, mussels will be maintained in different regimes of water turbulence, followed by adhesive protein extraction, purification by HPLC and amino acid analysis particularly of 3-, 4-hydroxyprolines and DOPA; C. to provide direct evidence for adhesion of the polyphenolic protein to surfaces using a catalytic surface and incorporation of iodine-125. This method would provide for preferential labeling of proteins making contact at the surface. Such proteins can then be identified by autoradiography of electrophoretic separations of extracts.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01DE008058-01
Application #
3221845
Study Section
Biochemistry Study Section (BIO)
Project Start
1986-09-01
Project End
1987-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Delaware
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
059007500
City
Newark
State
DE
Country
United States
Zip Code
19716