Identification and Characterization of the Molecule(s) Responsible for Cell-Substrate Adhesion in Marine Diatoms

摘要

We described first contact adhesion for cells of Stauroneis decipiens, marine diatoms known to be involved in the formation of primary biofilms, and developed an adhesion assay to test agents that might alter adhesion or fouling. We raised monoclonal antibodies to the adhesive mucilage of S. decipiens. We have detected a suite of extracellular proteoglycans that contain common antigenic epitopes and are located at the site of initial attachment of the diatoms to their substrate and in the trails of sticky mucilage that they secrete. The ability of one antibody (StF.H4) to inhibit adhesion and motility suggests that the epitope bound by this antibody is likely to be close to the adhesive domain(s) of the molecule, and that this antibody should be useful in defining the adhesive site. We are chemically characterizing the proteoglycans, both the carbohydrate and protein, and are close to determining the amino acid sequence for two of the proteins. The atomic force microscope is proving to be a valuable tool in characterizing diatom adhesion trails in the hydrated form, and for quantifying many of its adhesive features on different surfaces.