Polymerizing Like Mussels Do: Toward Synthetic Mussel Foot Proteins and Resistant Glues

摘要

A novel strategy to generate adhesive protein analogues by enzyme-induced polymerization of peptides is reported. Peptide polymerization relies on tyrosinase oxidation of tyrosine residues to Dopaquinones, which rapidly form cysteinyldopa-moieties with free thiols from cysteine residues, thereby linking unimers and generating adhesive polymers. The resulting artificial protein analogues show strong adsorption to different surfaces, even resisting hypersaline condition. Remarkable adhesion energies of up to 10.9 ml m(-2) are found in single adhesion events and average values are superior to those reported for mussel Pot proteins that constitute the gluing interfaces.