?,?-Dehydro-Dopa: A Hidden Participant in Mussel Adhesion.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Mirshafian R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4760353 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) is recognized as a key chemical signature of mussel adhesion and has been adopted into diverse synthetic polymer systems. Dopa's notorious susceptibility to oxidation, however, poses significant challenges to the practical translation of mussel adhesion. Using a surface forces apparatus to investigate the adhesion of mussel foot protein 3 (Mfp3) "slow", a hydrophobic protein variant of the Mfp3 family in the plaque, we have discovered a subtle molecular strategy correlated with hydrophobicity that appears to compensate for Dopa instability. At pH 3, where Dopa is stable, Mfp3 slow, like Mfp3 "fast" adhesion to mica, is directly proportional to the mol % of Dopa present in the protein. At pH of 5.5 and 7.5, however, loss of adhesion in Mfp3 slow was less than half that occurring in Mfp3 fast, purportedly because Dopa in Mfp3 slow is less prone to oxidation. Indeed, cyclic voltammetry showed that the oxidation potential of Dopa in Mfp3 slow is significantly higher than in Mfp3 fast at pH of 7.5. A much greater difference between the two variants was revealed in the interaction energy of two symmetric Mfp3 slow films (E(ad) = -3 mJ/m(2)). This energy corresponds to the energy of protein cohesion which is notable for its reversibility and pH independence. Exploitation of aromatic hydrophobic sequences to protect Dopa against oxidation as well as to mediate hydrophobic and H-bonding interactions between proteins provides new insights for developing effective artificial underwater adhesives.
| S-EPMC3587158 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mussels use a variety of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (DOPA) rich proteins specifically tailored to adhering to wet surfaces. Synthetic polypeptide analogues of adhesive mussel foot proteins (specifically mfp-3) are used to study the role of DOPA in adhesion. The mussel-inspired peptide is a random copolymer of DOPA and N(5) -(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-glutamine synthesized with DOPA concentrations of 0-27 mol% and molecular weights of 5.9-7.1 kDa. Thin films (3-5 nm thick) of the mussel-inspired peptide are used in the surface forces apparatus (SFA) to measure the force-distance profiles and adhesion and cohesion energies of the films in an acetate buffer. The adhesion energies of the mussel-inspired peptide films to mica and TiO(2) surfaces increase with DOPA concentration. The adhesion energy to mica is 0.09 μJ m(-2) mol(DOPA) (-1) and does not depend on contact time or load. The adhesion energy to TiO(2) is 0.29 μJ m(-2) mol(DOPA) (-1) for short contact times and increases to 0.51 μJ m(-2) mol(DOPA) (-1) for contact times >60 min in a way suggestive of a phase transition within the film. Oxidation of DOPA to the quinone form, either by addition of periodate or by increasing the pH, increases the thickness and reduces the cohesion of the films. Adding thiol containing polymers between the oxidized films recovers some of the cohesion strength. Comparison of the mussel-inspired peptide films to previous studies on mfp-3 thin films show that the strong adhesion and cohesion in mfp-3 films can be attributed to DOPA groups favorably oriented within or at the interface of these films.
| S-EPMC3098815 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The biochemistry of mussel adhesion has inspired the design of surface primers, adhesives, coatings and gels for technological applications. These mussel-inspired systems often focus on incorporating the amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (Dopa) or a catecholic analog into a polymer. Unfortunately, effective use of Dopa is compromised by its susceptibility to auto-oxidation at neutral pH. Oxidation can lead to loss of adhesive function and undesired covalent cross-linking. Mussel foot protein 5 (Mfp-5), which contains ∼ 30 mole % Dopa, is a superb adhesive under reducing conditions but becomes nonadhesive after pH-induced oxidation. Here we report that the bidentate complexation of borate by Dopa to form a catecholato-boronate can be exploited to retard oxidation. Although exposure of Mfp-5 to neutral pH typically oxidizes Dopa, resulting in a>95% decrease in adhesion, inclusion of borate retards oxidation at the same pH. Remarkably, this Dopa-boronate complex dissociates upon contact with mica to allow for a reversible Dopa-mediated adhesion. The borate protection strategy allows for Dopa redox stability and maintained adhesive function in an otherwise oxidizing environment.
| S-EPMC4193769 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In addition to identifying the proteins that have a role in underwater adhesion by marine mussels, research efforts have focused on identifying the genes responsible for the adhesive proteins, environmental factors that may influence protein production, and strategies for producing natural adhesives similar to the native mussel adhesive proteins. The production-scale availability of recombinant mussel adhesive proteins will enable researchers to formulate adhesives that are water-impervious and ecologically safe and can bind materials ranging from glass, plastics, metals, and wood to materials, such as bone or teeth, biological organisms, and other chemicals or molecules. Unfortunately, as of yet scientists have been unable to duplicate the processes that marine mussels use to create adhesive structures. This study provides a background on adhesive proteins identified in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, and introduces our research interests and discusses the future for continued research related to mussel adhesion.
| S-EPMC2100433 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The glue proteins secreted by marine mussels bind strongly to virtually all inorganic and organic surfaces in aqueous environments in which most adhesives function poorly. Studies of these functionally unique proteins have revealed the presence of the unusual amino acid 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (dopa), which is formed by posttranslational modification of tyrosine. However, the detailed binding mechanisms of dopa remain unknown, and the chemical basis for mussels' ability to adhere to both inorganic and organic surfaces has never been fully explained. Herein, we report a single-molecule study of the substrate and oxidation-dependent adhesive properties of dopa. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of a single dopa residue contacting a wet metal oxide surface reveal a surprisingly high strength yet fully reversible, noncovalent interaction. The magnitude of the bond dissociation energy as well as the inability to observe this interaction with tyrosine suggests that dopa is critical to adhesion and that the binding mechanism is not hydrogen bond formation. Oxidation of dopa, as occurs during curing of the secreted mussel glue, dramatically reduces the strength of the interaction to metal oxide but results in high strength irreversible covalent bond formation to an organic surface. A new picture of the interfacial adhesive role of dopa emerges from these studies, in which dopa exploits a remarkable combination of high strength and chemical multifunctionality to accomplish adhesion to substrates of widely varying composition from organic to metallic.
| S-EPMC1559742 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mussel adhesion to mineral surfaces is widely attributed to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) functionalities in the mussel foot proteins (mfps). Several mfps, however, show a broad range (30-100%) of Tyrosine (Tyr) to Dopa conversion suggesting that Dopa is not the only desirable outcome for adhesion. Here, we used a partial recombinant construct of mussel foot protein-1 (rmfp-1) and short decapeptide dimers with and without Dopa and assessed both their cohesive and adhesive properties on mica using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). Our results demonstrate that at low pH, both the unmodified and Dopa-containing rmfp-1s show similar energies for adhesion to mica and self-self interaction. Cohesion between two Dopa-containing rmfp-1 surfaces can be doubled by Fe3+ chelation, but remains unchanged with unmodified rmfp-1. At the same low pH, the Dopa modified short decapeptide dimer did not show any change in cohesive interactions even with Fe3+. Our results suggest that the most probable intermolecular interactions are those arising from electrostatic (i.e., cation-π) and hydrophobic interactions. We also show that Dopa in a peptide sequence does not by itself mediate Fe3+ bridging interactions between peptide films: peptide length is a crucial enabling factor.
| S-EPMC5488267 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Catecholic 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (Dopa) residues in mussel foot proteins (mfps) contribute critically to mussel (Mytilus californianus) plaque adhesion, but only if protected from oxidation at the adhesive-substratum interface. Dopa oxidation is thermodynamically favorable in seawater yet barely detectable in plaques; therefore, we investigated how plaques insulate Dopa-containing mfps against oxidation. Seawater sulfate triggers an mfp3 and mfp6 liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). By combining plaque cyclic voltammetry with electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and redox-exchange chemistry, we show that Dopa-containing mfp3 and mfp6 in phase-separated droplets remain stable despite rapid oxidation in the surrounding equilibrium solution. The results suggest that a cohort of oxidation-prone proteins is endowed with phase-dependent redox stability. Moreover, in forming LLPS compartments, Dopa proteins become reservoirs of chemical energy.
| S-EPMC7269650 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The mussel byssus has long been a source of inspiration for the adhesion community. Recently, adhesive synergy between flanking lysine (Lys, K) and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA, Y) residues in the mussel foot proteins (Mfps) has been highlighted. However, the complex topological relationship of DOPA and Lys as well as the interfacial adhesive roles of other amino acids have been understudied. Herein, we study adhesion of Lys and DOPA-containing peptides to organic and inorganic substrates using single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). We show that a modest increase in peptide length, from KY to (KY)3, increases adhesion strength to TiO2. Surprisingly, further increase in peptide length offers no additional benefit. Additionally, comparison of adhesion of dipeptides containing Lys and either DOPA (KY) or phenylalanine (KF) shows that DOPA is stronger and more versatile. We furthermore demonstrate that incorporating a nonadhesive spacer between (KY) repeats can mimic the hidden length in the Mfp and act as an effective strategy to dissipate energy.
| S-EPMC7403305 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Inspired largely by the role of the posttranslationally modified amino acid dopa (DOPA) in mussel adhesion, catechol functional groups have become commonplace in medical adhesives, tissue scaffolds, and advanced smart polymers. Yet, the complex redox chemistry of catechol groups complicates cross-link regulation, hampering fabrication and the long-term stability/performance of mussel-inspired polymers. Here, we investigated the various fates of DOPA residues in proteins comprising mussel byssus fibers before, during, and after protein secretion. Utilizing a combination of histological staining and confocal Raman spectroscopy on native tissues, as well as peptide-based cross-linking studies, we have identified at least two distinct DOPA-based cross-linking pathways during byssus fabrication, achieved by oxidative covalent cross-linking or formation of metal coordination interactions under reducing conditions, respectively. We suggest that these end states are spatiotemporally regulated by the microenvironments in which the proteins are stored prior to secretion, which are retained after formation-in particular, due to the presence of reducing moieties. These findings provide physicochemical pathways toward greater control over properties of synthetic catechol-based polymers and adhesives.
| S-EPMC7149395 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Marine mussels (Mytilus spp.) attach to a wide variety of surfaces underwater using a network of byssal threads, each tipped with a protein-based adhesive plaque that uses the surrounding seawater environment as a curing agent. Plaques undergo environmental post-processing, requiring a basic seawater pH be maintained for up to 8 days for the adhesive to strengthen completely. Given the sensitivity of plaques to local pH conditions long after deposition, we investigated the effect of other aspects of the seawater environment that are known to vary in nearshore habitats on plaque curing. The effect of seawater temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration were investigated using tensile testing, atomic force microscopy and amino acid compositional analysis. High temperature (30°C) and hyposalinity (1 PSU) had no effect on adhesion strength, while incubation in hypoxia (0.9 mg l-1) caused plaques to have a mottled coloration and prematurely peel from substrates, leading to a 51% decrease in adhesion strength. AFM imaging of the plaque cuticle found that plaques cured in hypoxia had regions of lower stiffness throughout, indicative of reductions in DOPA cross-linking between adhesive proteins. A better understanding of the dynamics of plaque curing could aid in the design of better synthetic adhesives, particularly in medicine where adhesion must take place within wet body cavities.
| S-EPMC6228490 | biostudies-literature