SCIENTIFIC EDUCATIONAL CENTER science idea

Scientists from Canada and Germany have found that edible mussels use a two-component mixture of protein and metal ions to attach to pitfalls. The two components are fed into a microchannel system in the clam's leg, turning into a durable, waterproof glue.
Some bivalve molluscs — in particular the edible mussels (Mytilus edulis) —are attached to a hard substrate with their feet. To do this, animals produce byssus (or byssus thread) - an extremely strong protein glue that can withstand strong waves and currents.
Since achieving good adhesion under water is not an easy task, chemists became interested in this ability of mussels, hoping to further use this knowledge in the production of adhesives for wet environments (for example, during surgical or dental operations).
To study the process of byssus production at the subcellular level, the authors used a variety of techniques, including microcomputed tomography, light microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, and confocal Raman spectroscopy. With their help, the researchers discovered that inside the leg of the mussel there are micron-sized channels in which the components of the glue mix.
The mollusk releases bubbles (vesicles) containing the main protein of the glue into the canal, as well as vesicles with iron and vanadium ions. Mixing, the protein and metal ions gradually harden, turning the liquid protein into a strong glue. The whole process takes about two to three minutes.
Scientists are particularly interested in the fact that mussels use vanadium to make glue: previously, the accumulation of this metal was noticed only in a few other organisms. Researchers believe that it plays a particularly important role in the hardening of the adhesive, and work continues in this area.
The article was published in the journal Science
PHOTO: Byssal thread with adhesive plaques © Tobias Priemel
Source: naked-science.ru, sci-dig.ru