In:
mBio, American Society for Microbiology, Vol. 9, No. 1 ( 2018-03-07)
Abstract:
There is an urgent need for strong, biocompatible bioadhesives that perform underwater. To strongly adhere to surfaces and resist flow underwater, the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces an adhesive called the holdfast, the mechanochemistry of which remains undefined. We show that the holdfast is a layered structure with a stiff core layer and a polymeric brush layer and consists of polysaccharides, polypeptides, and DNA. The DNA appears to play a role in the structure of the brush layer and initial adhesion, the peptides in adhesive strength, and the polysaccharides in the structure of the core. The complex, multilayer organization and diverse chemistry described here underlie the distinctive adhesive properties of the holdfast and will provide important insights into the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion and bioadhesive applications.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2161-2129
,
2150-7511
DOI:
10.1128/mBio.02359-17
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Society for Microbiology
Publication Date:
2018
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2557172-2
Bookmarklink