Bio glue from a slug
The sticky substance of the slug will help to create a reliable medical glue
The sticky substance produced by the Arion fuscus slug adheres very well even to a wet surface thanks to a three-dimensional network of unique proteins. The analysis of these proteins will help in the future in the development of a synthetic medical glue that can stretch while remaining strong, the EurekAlert portal reports! (Slug glue reveals clues for making better medical adhesives).
The Arion fuscus slug (also known as Dusky Arion) is a small land slug that is found in Europe and Asia. It produces a special sticky substance of bright orange color, which does not dissolve in water and adheres well to the surface of even the wettest leaves and earth. A similar superglue helps the slug survive: predators simply cannot tear it away from the surface to which it is firmly attached.
Two students from the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Smith (Andrew Smith) at the College of the city of Ithaca found out why the "superglue" of the slug is not afraid of water and remains so strong. They presented the results of their work yesterday at the annual meeting American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Rebecca Falconer analyzed 11 proteins and, using recombinant DNA technology, created a large number of artificial "copies" of each protein for analysis. The methods she has developed can also be used to reproduce proteins for artificial glue. The analysis showed that some proteins tend to bind to themselves or to other proteins, forming a three-dimensional network. This teamwork allows some proteins to perform their functions more efficiently.
Christopher Gallego-Lazo focused on the study of the double structure of the protein network, which allows the glue to deform, but retain the ability to withstand heavy loads. The researcher found that changing the specific chemical bonds in the protein network of the adhesive substance changes its strength.
"This knowledge can help in the development of an organic synthetic adhesive that will reduce the risk of infection and scarring compared to [surgical] sutures and braces and can be applied quickly and simply," emphasizes Gallego–Laso.
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