Influence of Subtilisin on mussel (Mytilus edulis) byssus deposition and diatom (Navicula sp.) settlement

摘要

Biofouling organisms secrete adhesive polymers to settle themselves on man-made substrata in the marine environment. Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and diatom (Navicula sp.) are both major marine biofoulers. They attach tenaciously to a wide variety of submerged surfaces by virtue of byssus and extracellular polymer substances, respectively. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifouling potential of the serine protease subtilisin on mussels and benthic diatoms. The effects of enzyme concentration, treatment duration and application time were tested on byssus deposition. The results showed that subtilisin effectively prevented the byssus formation. The reduction rate of byssal plaques was dependent on enzyme concentration and treatment duration. The byssal plaques of Mytilus edulis became progressively less sensitive to hydrolysis as they cured. Attached diatoms on polystyrene substrate were effectively removed by subtilisin.