AsianScientist (Jul 7, 2014) – A study published in the journal ACS Nano shows that the proteins in squid suckers could form the basis for a new generation of strong, but malleable, materials. These materials could someday be used for reconstructive surgery, eco-friendly packaging and many other applications.
Squid tentacles are loaded with hundreds of suction cups, or suckers, and each sucker has a ring of razor-sharp “teeth” that help these mighty predators latch onto and take down prey.
Dr. Ali Miserez from the Nanyang Technological University explained that in previous research, his research team discovered that sharp, tough squid sucker ring teeth (SRT) are made entirely of proteins. That makes SRT distinct from many other natural polymers and hard tissues (such as bones) that require the addition of minerals or other substances to perform the right activities. The team already had identified one “suckerin” protein and found that this protein could be remolded into different shapes. But what about the other suckerins in SRT?
In the present study, they identified 37 additional SRT proteins from two squid species and a cuttlefish. The team also determined their architectures, including how their components formed what is known as “ß-sheets.” Spider silks also form these structures, which help make them strong. Just as silk is finding application in many areas, so too could SRT proteins, which could be easier to make in the lab and more eco-friendly to process into usable materials than silk.
“We envision SRT-based materials as artificial ligaments, scaffolds to grow bone and as sustainable materials for packaging, substituting for today’s products made with fossil fuels,” says Miserez. “There is no shortage of ideas, though we are just beginning to work on these proteins.”
The article can be found at: Guerette et al. (2014) Nanoconfined β-Sheets Mechanically Reinforce the Supra-Biomolecular Network of Robust Squid Sucker Ring Teeth.
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Source: American Chemical Society.
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