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In addition to using the knowledge to develop safer
alternatives for surgical and household glues, the researchers are
looking at how to combat the glue to prevent damage to shipping
vessels and the accidental transport of invasive species, such as the
zebra mussel that has ravaged the midwestern United States.
National Science Foundation CAREER awardee Jonathan
Wilker, Mary Sever and their colleagues at Purdue University announce
their discovery in the Jan. 12 issue of Angewandte Chemie.
En route to crafting synthetic versions of the glue,
the researchers discovered that bivalves extract the metal iron from
the surrounding seawater and use it to join proteins together, linking
the fibrous molecules into a strong, adhesive mesh. The 800 mussels in
Wilker's laboratory have an uncanny ability to stick to almost
anything, even Teflon®.
Comment from Wilker regarding research:
"Mussel glues present the first identified case in which transition
metals are essential to the formation of a non crystalline biological
material," says NSF CAREER awardee Jonathan Wilker of Purdue
University.
"We are curious as to whether or not this newly
discovered, metal- mediated protein cross-linking mechanism of
material formation is a prevalent theme in biology. We will be
exploring systems such as barnacle cement, kelp glue and oyster cement
to see how other biomaterials are produced," says NSF CAREER awardee
Jonathan Wilker of Purdue University.
"The biological origin of this glue and the ability
to stick to nearly all surfaces invite applications such as the
development of surgical adhesives," says NSF CAREER awardee Jonathan
Wilker of Purdue University.
"Understanding how marine glues are formed could be
key to developing surfaces and coatings to prevent adhesion processes.
Current antifouling paints rely upon releasing copper into surrounding
waters, thereby killing barnacles in their larval state. We are hoping
our results will help make antifouling paints that do not require the
release of toxins into the marine environment," says NSF CAREER
awardee Jonathan Wilker of Purdue University.
NSF comments regarding the research discovery
and the Wilker group:
"It appears that the strength, sticking power and endurance of these
extraordinary biological materials may derive from inorganic chemistry,"
says chemist Mike Clarke, the NSF program officer who oversees
Wilker's award.
"Proteins often rely on metal ions to tie them
together and provide stability, but this is the first time that a
transition metal ion has been determined to be an integral part of a
biological material," says chemist Mike Clarke, the NSF program
officer who oversees Wilker's award.
"The research wonderfully illustrates the potential
for metal ions to strengthen materials by cross-linking polymer chains.
More important to researchers is the tantalizing suggestion that the
remarkable adhesive properties of these biological glues lie in an
iron-dependent oxidation to radicals," says chemist Mike Clarke, the
NSF program officer who oversees Wilker's award.
"This discovery could lead to the creation of
unusual new materials with designed plasticity, strength and
adhesiveness for household, structural and biological uses. Perhaps,
these properties could even be made dependent upon electrochemical
potential thereby creating new vistas for electronic materials," says
chemist Mike Clarke, the NSF program officer who oversees Wilker's
award. |
