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Metal Coordination-Mediated Functional Grading and Self-Healing in Mussel Byssus Cuticle.

ABSTRACT: Metal-containing polymer networks are ubiquitous in biological systems, and their unique structures enable a variety of fascinating biological behaviors. Cuticle of mussel byssal threads, containing Fe-catecholate complexes, shows remarkably high hardness, high extensibility, and self-healing capability. Understanding strengthening and self-healing mechanisms is essential for elucidating animal behaviors and rationally designing mussel-inspired materials. Here, direct evidence of Fe3+ and Fe2+ gradient distribution across the cuticle thickness is demonstrated, which shows more Fe2+ inside the inner cuticle, to support the hypothesis that the cuticle is a functionally graded material with high stiffness, extensibility, and self-healing capacity. The mechanical tests of the mussel threads show that both strength and extensibility of the threads decrease with increasing oxygen contents, but this property degradation can be restored upon removing the oxygen. The first-principles calculations explain the change in iron coordination, which plays a key role in strengthening, degradation, and self-healing of the polymer networks. The oxygen absorbs on metal ions, weakening the iron-catecholate bonds in the cuticle and collagen core, but this process can be reversed by sea water. These findings can have important implications in the design of next-generation bioinspired robust, highly extensible materials, and catalysis.

SUBMITTER: Xu Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6891911 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Biofouling mediated by byssus adhesion in invasive bivalves has become a global environmental problem in aquatic ecosystems, resulting in negative ecological and economic consequences. Previous studies suggested that mechanisms responsible for byssus adhesion largely vary among bivalves, but it is poorly understood in freshwater species. Understanding of byssus structure and protein composition is the prerequisite for revealing these mechanisms. Here, we used multiple methods, including scanning electron microscope, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, transcriptome sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, to investigate structure, and protein composition of byssus in the highly invasive freshwater mussel Limnoperna fortunei. The results indicated that the structure characteristics of adhesive plaque, proximal and distal threads were conducive to byssus adhesion, contributing to the high biofouling capacity of this species. The 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-?-alanine (Dopa) is a major post-transnationally modification in L. fortunei byssus. We identified 16 representative foot proteins with typical repetitive motifs and conserved domains by integrating transcriptomic and proteomic approaches. In these proteins, Lfbp-1, Lffp-2, and Lfbp-3 were specially located in foot tissue and highly expressed in the rapid byssus formation period, suggesting the involvement of these foot proteins in byssus production and adhesion. Multiple metal irons, including Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Al3+, and Fe3+, were abundant in both foot tissue and byssal thread. The heavy metals in these irons may be directly accumulated by L. fortunei from surrounding environments. Nevertheless, some metal ions (e.g., Ca2+) corresponded well with amino acid preferences of L. fortunei foot proteins, suggesting functional roles of these metal ions by interacting with foot proteins in byssus adhesion. Overall, this study provides structural and molecular bases of adhesive mechanisms of byssus in L. fortunei, and findings here are expected to develop strategies against biofouling by freshwater organisms.

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Metal Coordination-Mediated Functional Grading and Self-Healing in Mussel Byssus Cuticle.

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