The role of coacervation and phase transitions in the sandcastle worm adhesive system.

ABSTRACT: Sandcastle worms, Phragmatopoma californica (Fewkes), live along the western coast of North America. Individual worms build tubular shells under seawater by gluing together sandgrains and biomineral particles with a multipart, rapid-set, self-initiating adhesive. The glue comprises distinct sets of condensed, oppositely charged polyelectrolytic components-polyphosphates, polysulfates, and polyamines-that are separately granulated and stored at high concentration in distinct cell types. The pre-organized adhesive modules are secreted separately and intact, but rapidly fuse with minimal mixing and expand into a crack-penetrating complex fluid. Within 30s of secretion into seawater, the fluid adhesive transitions (sets) into a porous solid adhesive joint. The nano- and microporous structure o

SUBMITTER: Stewart RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5182194 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature