Metal-Mediated Protein Cross-Linking in the Formation of Marine Mussel Adhesive

生命过程化学（CLP）计划中的这一奖项支持普渡大学Jonathan Wilker教授开展海洋贻贝粘合剂的基础研究。 贻贝、藤壶、海星和帽贝的粘合剂和胶结物对任何探索过潮池的人都很熟悉。 目前的研究工作集中在揭示这些迷人的生物材料的形成和功能的化学中心。 实验包括活体动物、提取的蛋白质和合成肽模型。 这些研究将有助于提供有关金属诱导蛋白质交联的化学反应以及这些反应对粘合剂性能的影响的详细见解。 新材料的设计是这种海洋生物材料特性鉴定工作的必然结果。 了解海洋贻贝粘合剂可以提供有用的见解，开发外科粘合剂，牙科水泥和防锈涂料。

This award in the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) program supports work by Professor Jonathan Wilker at Purdue University to carry out fundamental studies on the adhesive of marine mussels. The adhesives and cements of mussels, barnacles, starfish, and limpets are familiar to anyone who has ever explored a tide pool. Current research efforts are focused upon uncovering the chemistry central to formation and function of these fascinating biological materials. Experiments include work with live animals, extracted proteins, and synthetic peptide models. This collection of studies will help to provide detailed insights on the chemistry of metal-induced protein cross-linking as well as the resulting influence of these reactions upon adhesive performance. Design of new materials is a logical outgrowth of such marine biomaterial characterization efforts. Understanding marine mussel adhesive may provide insights useful to developing surgical adhesives, dental cements, and rustproof coatings.