Dataset Information

(Un)expected Similarity of the Temporary Adhesive Systems of Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater Flatworms.

ABSTRACT: Many free-living flatworms have evolved a temporary adhesion system, which allows them to quickly attach to and release from diverse substrates. In the marine Macrostomum lignano, the morphology of the adhesive system and the adhesion-related proteins have been characterised. However, little is known about how temporary adhesion is performed in other aquatic environments. Here, we performed a 3D reconstruction of the M. lignano adhesive organ and compared it to the morphology of five selected Macrostomum, representing two marine, one brackish, and two freshwater species. We compared the protein domains of the two adhesive proteins, as well as an anchor cell-specific intermediate filament. We analysed the gene expression of these proteins by in situ hybridisation and performed functional knockdowns with RNA interference. Remarkably, there are almost no differences in terms of morphology, protein regions, and gene expression based on marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats. This implies that glue components produced by macrostomids are conserved among species, and this set of two-component glue functions from low to high salinity. These findings could contribute to the development of novel reversible biomimetic glues that work in all wet environments and could have applications in drug delivery systems, tissue adhesives, or wound dressings.

SUBMITTER: Bertemes P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8621496 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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(Un)expected Similarity of the Temporary Adhesive Systems of Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater Flatworms.

Bertemes Philip P Pjeta Robert R Wunderer Julia J Grosbusch Alexandra L AL Lengerer Birgit B Grüner Kevin K Knapp Magdalena M Mertens Birte B Andresen Nikolas N Hess Michael W MW Tomaiuolo Sara S Zankel Armin A Holzer Patrik P Salvenmoser Willi W Egger Bernhard B Ladurner Peter P

International journal of molecular sciences 20211112 22

Many free-living flatworms have evolved a temporary adhesion system, which allows them to quickly attach to and release from diverse substrates. In the marine <i>Macrostomum lignano</i>, the morphology of the adhesive system and the adhesion-related proteins have been characterised. However, little is known about how temporary adhesion is performed in other aquatic environments. Here, we performed a 3D reconstruction of the <i>M. lignano</i> adhesive organ and compared it to the morphology of fi ...[more]

PMID: 34830109

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Dataset Information

(Un)expected Similarity of the Temporary Adhesive Systems of Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater Flatworms.

Publications

(Un)expected Similarity of the Temporary Adhesive Systems of Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater Flatworms.

Similar Datasets

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