Mussels inhabit seashore by attachment themselves using their adhesive proteins. Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have various forms of foot proteins which are stockpiled in vacuole with highly condensed liquid phase. Coacervation process has been suggested to explain the condensation of protein solution. Complex coacervation is liquid/liquid phase separation where the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes meet, followed by separation of condensed and diluted phase. Moreover, condensed coacervates phase has benefit for underwater adhesion in that is non-dissolved in watery phase and has low interfacial tension. However, coacervation process has been regarded as impossible phenomenon in mussel adhesion system because acidic partner was not found for basic MAPs. In this study, we present newly found acidic partner and confirmation complex coacervation in mussel adhesion using several recombinant MAPs.

Investigation of complex coacervation using recombinant mussel adhesive proteins

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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