Abstract
Nature has evolved several molecular strategies to ensure adhesion in aqueous environments, where artificial adhesives typically fail. One recently-unveiled molecular design for wet-resistant adhesion is the cohesive cross-β structure characteristic of amyloids, complementing the well-established surface-binding strategy of mussel adhesive proteins based on 3,4-l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa). Structural proteins that self-assemble into cross β-sheet networks are the suckerins discovered in the sucker ring teeth of squids. Here, light is shed on the wet adhesion of cross-β motifs by producing recombinant suckerin-12, naturally lacking Dopa, and investigating its wet adhesion properties. Surprisingly, the adhesion forces measured on mica reach 70 mN m−1, exceeding those measured for all mussel adhesive proteins to date. The pressure-sensitive adhesion of artificial suckerins is largely governed by their cross-β motif, as evidenced using control experiments with disrupted cross-β domains that result in complete loss of adhesion. Dopa is also incorporated in suckerin-12 using a residue-specific incorporation strategy that replaces tyrosine with Dopa during expression in Escherichia coli. Although the replacement does not increase the long-term adhesion, it contributes to the initial rapid contact and enhances the adsorption onto model oxide substrates. The findings suggest that suckerins with supramolecular cross-β motifs are promising biopolymers for wet-resistant adhesion.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1907534 |
Journal | Advanced Functional Materials |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 1 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- General Chemistry
- Biomaterials
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electrochemistry
Keywords
- Dopa
- residue specific incorporation
- suckerin
- surface forces apparatus
- underwater adhesives