Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions
Abstract Every animal secretes mucus, placing them among the most diverse biological materials. Mucus hydrogels are complex mixtures of water, ions, carbohydrates, and proteins. Uncertainty surrounding their composition and how interactions between components contribute to mucus function complicates...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41094-z |
| _version_ | 1827710275466297344 |
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| author | Antonio R. Cerullo Maxwell B. McDermott Lauren E. Pepi Zhi-Lun Liu Diariou Barry Sheng Zhang Xu Yang Xi Chen Parastoo Azadi Mande Holford Adam B. Braunschweig |
| author_facet | Antonio R. Cerullo Maxwell B. McDermott Lauren E. Pepi Zhi-Lun Liu Diariou Barry Sheng Zhang Xu Yang Xi Chen Parastoo Azadi Mande Holford Adam B. Braunschweig |
| author_sort | Antonio R. Cerullo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Every animal secretes mucus, placing them among the most diverse biological materials. Mucus hydrogels are complex mixtures of water, ions, carbohydrates, and proteins. Uncertainty surrounding their composition and how interactions between components contribute to mucus function complicates efforts to exploit their properties. There is substantial interest in commercializing mucus from the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, for skincare, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and composite materials. C. aspersum secretes three mucus—one shielding the animal from environmental threats, one adhesive mucus from the pedal surface of the foot, and another pedal mucus that is lubricating. It remains a mystery how compositional differences account for their substantially different properties. Here, we characterize mucus proteins, glycosylation, ion content, and mechanical properties that could be used to provide insight into structure-function relationships through an integrative “mucomics” approach. We identify macromolecular components of these hydrogels, including a previously unreported protein class termed Conserved Anterior Mollusk Proteins (CAMPs). Revealing differences between C. aspersum mucus shows how considering structure at all levels can inform the design of mucus-inspired materials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad498a3c3b85499b8174469faa207828 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad498a3c3b85499b8174469faa2078282023-11-20T09:52:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-09-0114111410.1038/s41467-023-41094-zComparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum SecretionsAntonio R. Cerullo0Maxwell B. McDermott1Lauren E. Pepi2Zhi-Lun Liu3Diariou Barry4Sheng Zhang5Xu Yang6Xi Chen7Parastoo Azadi8Mande Holford9Adam B. Braunschweig10The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter CollegeComplex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaThe Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkThe Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkThe Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkComplex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaThe Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkComplex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaThe PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkThe Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkAbstract Every animal secretes mucus, placing them among the most diverse biological materials. Mucus hydrogels are complex mixtures of water, ions, carbohydrates, and proteins. Uncertainty surrounding their composition and how interactions between components contribute to mucus function complicates efforts to exploit their properties. There is substantial interest in commercializing mucus from the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, for skincare, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and composite materials. C. aspersum secretes three mucus—one shielding the animal from environmental threats, one adhesive mucus from the pedal surface of the foot, and another pedal mucus that is lubricating. It remains a mystery how compositional differences account for their substantially different properties. Here, we characterize mucus proteins, glycosylation, ion content, and mechanical properties that could be used to provide insight into structure-function relationships through an integrative “mucomics” approach. We identify macromolecular components of these hydrogels, including a previously unreported protein class termed Conserved Anterior Mollusk Proteins (CAMPs). Revealing differences between C. aspersum mucus shows how considering structure at all levels can inform the design of mucus-inspired materials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41094-z |
| spellingShingle | Antonio R. Cerullo Maxwell B. McDermott Lauren E. Pepi Zhi-Lun Liu Diariou Barry Sheng Zhang Xu Yang Xi Chen Parastoo Azadi Mande Holford Adam B. Braunschweig Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions Nature Communications |
| title | Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions |
| title_full | Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions |
| title_fullStr | Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions |
| title_short | Comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions |
| title_sort | comparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct cornu aspersum secretions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41094-z |
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