Brief description

Over the past 30 years, the interest in developing bio-adhesive materials has been growing due to their potential applications in various aspects of life science. In this context, mussels have gained significant attention owing to their remarkable ability to firmly anchor themselves to rocky surfaces, even in harsh conditions. The key to their robust underwater adhesion lies in the secretion of a protein-based stringy appendage, known as the byssus, composed of bundles of intertwined fibers. Each filament terminates with a protein-rich plaque containing mussel foot proteins (mfps) that possess adhesive properties, serving as a water-resistant glue that enables mussels to securely attach to diverse substrates. The complex process of plaque formation comprises several steps, one of which involves the coacervation of mfps to enhance adhesion to the surface.

To shed light on this intriguing mechanism, our initial focus was on the characterization of Pvfp-5β, one of the mfps from the Asian green mussel Perna viridis. It is the first to be secreted and to establish interactions with the substrate, making it a particularly fascinating subject of study. We successfully produced recombinant Pvfp-5β in bacteria with no post-translational modifications. We then found that this form possesses low toxicity and intrinsic adhesive properties, comparable to those of the Dopamine-rich protein extracted from the natural source. Subsequently, we took a significant step towards understanding the structural determinants of Pvfp-5β’s adhesive properties by solving its 3D structure in solution and characterizing the dynamics of the protein, by NMR and molecular dynamics. This research will contribute into the knowledge base for both biological and biotechnological applications.

Impact

The development of innovative, naturally derived adhesives has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including tissue engineering, medical device implantation, regenerative medicine, and surgery. In fact, there are situations where conventional techniques like suturing are impractical, making tissue adhesives a critical alternative. Bio-adhesives would offer a crucial alternative with several advantages, including reduced invasiveness, lower tissue damage risk, enhanced immobilization, and the ability to promote wound healing through diverse mechanisms. However, the development of new bio-adhesive molecules is very challenging, since they must be capable of functioning effectively in wet environments and facilitating efficient tissue adhesion under these conditions.

Sessile organisms, such as mussels, secrete proteins with remarkable adhesive properties in aquatic environment, serving as a valuable source of inspiration. Understanding the complete mechanisms underlying the adhesion processes involving mussel foot proteins (mfps) could be of fundamental importance for developing biomaterials with properties that can be used not only in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, but also in the field of materials science.

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