Characterization of Marine Bioadhesive Proteins

Abstract

The objective of this research is to elucidate the amino acid sequences, via gene sequencing, of the adhesive proteins from several species of mussel, with the aim of understanding how these organisms attached themselves to wet surfaces. During the past year we have completed sequencing cDNA clones that code the entire amino sequence of the adhesive protein of Mytilus edulis and for the C-terminal approximately 75% of the adhesive protein of Geukensia demissa. In addition, we have obtained sequence information on a new Geukensia protein that has a 47-amino acid repeat sequence. The patterns of repeat sequences in both adhesive proteins suggests to us that the conformations of the repeat peptide domains is important for function, but that the overall arrangement of the domains is less so. Keywords: Adhesive, Proteins, Mussel, Amino acid sequence, Gene sequence, cDNA, Marine bioadhesive proteins, Biochemistry, Wet surfaces.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA223539

Entities

People

  • Richard A. Laursen

Organizations

  • Boston University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adhesives
  • Amino Acids
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Processes
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Coding
  • Genetic Structures
  • Materials
  • Military Research
  • Proteins
  • Security
  • Sequences
  • Terminals
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.