Elastomeric gradients: a hedge against stress concentration in marine holdfasts?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
J Herbert WaiteJared M Lucas

Abstract

The byssal threads of marine mussels are elastomeric fibres with a great capacity for absorbing and dissipating energy. Up to 70% of the total absorbed energy can be dissipated in the byssus. Because byssal threads attach the mussel to hard inert surfaces in its habitat, they must combine the need to be good shock absorbers with appropriate matching of Young's modulus between living tissue and a hard sub-stratum such as stone - stiffnesses that can differ by five orders of magnitude. Recent data suggest that improved modulus matching and decreased stress concentration between different portions of the byssus is achieved by the use of protein gradients. Protein gradients in byssal threads are constructed using natural macromolecular chimeras having a central collagenous domain, variable flanking modules and histidine-rich amino and carboxy termini. Stiff silk-like flanking modules prevail distally, while at the animal end, rubbery modules resembling elastin predominate. In between the two thread ends there is a mix of both module types. The histidine-rich termini provide metal binding/cross-linking sites, while collagen domains may confer self-assembly on all parts of the structure. A graded axial distribution of flanking module...Continue Reading

References

Jul 5, 1979·The New England Journal of Medicine·D J ProckopN A Guzman
Jun 1, 1976·Journal of Morphology·A TamarinJ Askey
Jan 1, 1992·Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation·J H Waite
Oct 1, 1986·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·J M Mascolo, J H Waite
Jan 1, 1988·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. B, Comparative Biochemistry·K P Van NessD R Eyre
Sep 1, 1986·Journal of Morphology·C V Benedict, J H Waite
May 1, 1968·European Journal of Biochemistry·J PikkarainenE Kulonen
Jan 1, 1996·Protein Engineering·G KingJ M Chen
Jan 24, 1998·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·X X QinJ H Waite
Aug 7, 1998·Matrix Biology : Journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology·J H WaiteK J Coyne
Sep 2, 1998·Journal of Structural Biology·D J Prockop, A Fertala
Sep 2, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·X X Qin, J H Waite
Jul 10, 1999·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·L M McDowellJ Schaefer
Jun 20, 2000·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·G Sachetto-MartinsD E de Oliveira
Jun 30, 2000·Structure·J Bella, H M Berman
Sep 22, 2000·Biochemistry·L A Burzio, J H Waite
Sep 1, 1955·The Biochemical Journal·J H BOWESJ A MOSS
Feb 1, 1975·Journal of Morphology·Arnold Tamarin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 21, 2009·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Jose M F Babarro, María José Fernández Reiriz
Jun 16, 2004·Biochemistry·J Herbert WaitePaul Hansma
May 21, 2010·Nature·Haeshin Lee
Mar 26, 2002·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·John GoslineKen Savage
Jul 25, 2008·Journal of Dental Research·N Holten-Andersen, J H Waite
Jun 30, 2009·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Jason Sagert, J Herbert Waite
May 29, 2014·Nature Communications·Benny Bar-OnYael Politi
Apr 6, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Peter H TsangJay X Tang
Apr 25, 2012·Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry·Daniel E Barlow, Kathryn J Wahl
Sep 12, 2014·Biotechnology Journal·Yun Jung YangHyung Joon Cha
Mar 4, 2014·Journal of Structural Biology·Michael H Suhre, Thomas Scheibel
Sep 10, 2014·Annual Review of Marine Science·Emily CarringtonKenneth P Sebens
Nov 21, 2012·Biomacromolecules·Alexandre A ArnoldIsabelle Marcotte
Apr 12, 2014·Biomacromolecules·Stephan SchmidtMatthew James Harrington
Jan 18, 2018·Advanced Materials·Dimitri KokkinisAndré R Studart
Feb 27, 2014·Nature Communications·Michael H SuhreThomas Scheibel
Feb 6, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Zeineb BouhlelIsabelle Marcotte
Jul 7, 2018·Soft Matter·Yunhong HeHaibing Ding
Jul 6, 2018·Biotechnology Journal·Jia Wang, Thomas Scheibel
Aug 2, 2003·Oncogene·Gongxian Liao, Shao-Cong Sun
Apr 12, 2003·Nature Materials·Nathan BeckerHelen G Hansma
Dec 13, 2012·Nature Communications·Rafael LibanoriAndré R Studart
Jun 11, 2014·Acta Crystallographica. Section F, Structural Biology Communications·Michael H SuhreMelanie Gertz
Sep 17, 2005·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·ChengJun Sun, J Herbert Waite
Feb 1, 2018·Soft Matter·Krishna Kant Kundan, Animangsu Ghatak
Oct 7, 2014·Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine·Frédéric ByetteIsabelle Marcotte
Apr 16, 2014·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·Animangsu Ghatak
Mar 26, 2009·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Zhongbing HuangYadong Yao
Dec 7, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Matthew J Harrington, J Herbert Waite
Apr 12, 2008·Biomacromolecules·Matthew J Harrington, J Herbert Waite
Feb 1, 2018·ACS Nano·Franziska JehleMatthew J Harrington
Apr 26, 2018·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Omri GoldbergH Daniel Wagner
May 8, 2017·ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering·Lisa D Muiznieks, Fred W Keeley
Jun 2, 2011·Journal of Structural Biology·Anja HagenauThomas Scheibel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.