Calcium tunes snail mucus-based materials to multiple functions

ABSTRACT: Mucus is usually associated with a viscous fluid; yet, snails routinely manufacture various astonishing mucus-based materials with properties requiring a much higher cohesion. Snail mucus materials are tailored to different and even antagonistic functions - including lubrication, adhesion, protection and defense - an ability, which is still poorly understood, and structural building blocks responsible for these functions remain elusive. Here, we use a multidisciplinary approach to investigate five different mucus-based materials produced by the terrestrial snail Cepaea nemoralis to address these questions. Our results demonstrate that snails use collagen VI as a main structural component. During mucus secretion, they add calcium, which is previously stockpiled in the gland tissue as amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) granules. Depending on the mucus type, these granules function as a temporary storage phase serving as an ion source or mineral precursor. Ca ions are known binding partners for negatively charged groups in mucus glycoproteins, directly influencing cross-link density and, thus, cohesion in most mucus types; whereas calcite serves as a reinforcing component in the adhesive mucus and epiphragm. These findings shed light on the versatility of tunable viscoelastic materials that could inspire the development of stimuli-responsive and sustainable soft materials, which are able to switch between different properties.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Cepaea Nemoralis

SUBMITTER: Barbara Steigenberger  

LAB HEAD: Franziska Jehle

PROVIDER: PXD065814 | Pride | 2026-09-26

REPOSITORIES: Pride