Study on the Attachment and the Adhesive Proteins of the Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata.

Biodegradation of the cross-linked cationic poly(amino acid) hydrogels by proteolytic enzymes

“…In conclusion, we have reported here some data on the degradation of cross-linked biohydrogels using cationic Lys-and Om-containing homo-and copolypeptides. On the basis of the experimental results, we make the following comments on the degradation of cationic PLL-GA related hydrogels: (1) PLL gels are degraded by trypsin but not by chymotrypsin and papain; (2) optimal conditions for degradation of the PLL gels are trypsin units greater than 500, pH 7-11, 0.5-2 M salts, and higher reaction temperatures; (3) a pH region below 5 and a salt concentration over 4 M inhibit trypsin activity toward the PLL gels; (4) copoly-(Lys^Tyr1) gels are degradable by trypsin, chymotrypsin, and even papain; (5) PLO gels behave like PLL gels but exhibit no degradation by enzymes; (6) copoly-(Lys^Orn1) gels are degradable by trypsin; (7) copoly-(Lys-Orn) gels are controlled degradable materials depending on the Om contents.…”

“…It has been widely observed in aqueous systems that insolubilized water-soluble proteins are surface adhesive in biological systems.1'2 For example, mussels secrete a soft semitransparent gelly thread emerging sideways from a flattened ovoid disk in 10 min when it is dark. 3 The transparent thready gel turns, successively, white turbid, pale yellow after a few hours, brownish red overnight, and finally into a strong green thread after several days, exhibiting a high tensile strength of 200-1000 kgf/cm2. This hardening process is due to autocross-linking by an oxidase tyrosinase.4 Thus, mussels attach not only to rocks but also to plastics, glass, slate, and metals by approximately 100 disks and threads, which are called byssus.…”

Characteristics of Marine Adhesive Proteins and Preparation of Antifouling Surfaces for the Sessile Animals.

“…When one hangs down a mussel pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) onto the substrates, the mussel attaches to polycarbonate and escapes from teflon, depending on the materials (YAMAMOTO et al, 1993). What does this mean?…”