The tough, hydrogel glue produced by the slug Arion subfuscus achieves impressive performance through metal-based, protein cross-links. The primary sequence of these proteins was determined through transcriptome sequencing and proteome analysis by tandem mass spectrometry. The main proteins that correlate with adhesive function are a group of 11 small, highly abundant lectin-like proteins. These proteins matched the ligand-binding C-lectin, C1q or H-lectin domains. The variety of different lectin-like proteins and their potential for oligomerization suggests that they function as versatile and potent cross-linkers. In addition, the glue contains five matrilin-like proteins that are rich in von Willebrand factor A (VWA) and EGF domains. Both C-lectins and VWA domains are known to bind to ligands using divalent cations. These findings are consistent with the double network mechanism proposed for slug glue, with divalent ions serving as sacrificial bonds to dissipate energy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2017.1361413 | DOI Listing |
Virchows Arch
December 2021
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy of the skin. The cell of origin of MCC is thus far unknown and proposed cells of origin include Merkel cells, pro-/pre- or pre-B cells, epithelial stem cells, and dermal stem cells. In this study, we aimed to shed further light on the possibility that a subset of MCC tumors arise from epithelial stem cells of the skin by examining the expression of hair follicle and epidermal stem cell markers in MCC and normal human skin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Med Genet A
June 2021
The Folkhaelsan Department of Medical Genetics, The Folkhaelsan Institute of Genetics and the Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
J Transl Med
October 2020
Institute of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
February 2019
Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Transplantation
January 2016
1 Transplantation Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2 Department of surgery, Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 3 Transplantation and Liver Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 4 Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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