Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:486845. doi: 10.1155/2011/486845. Epub 2011 Jun 15.
The sea cucumber Holothuria forskåli possesses a specialized system called Cuvierian tubules. During mechanical stimulation white filaments (tubules) are expelled and become sticky upon contact with any object. We isolated a protein with adhesive properties from protein extracts of Cuvierian tubules from H. forskåli. This protein was identified by antibodies against recombinant precollagen D which is located in the byssal threads of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. To find out the optimal procedure for extraction and purification, the identified protein was isolated by several methods, including electroelution, binding to glass beads, immunoprecipitation, and gel filtration. Antibodies raised against the isolated protein were used for localization of the adhesive protein in Cuvierian tubules. Immunostaining and immunogold electron microscopical studies revealed the strongest immunoreactivity in the mesothelium; this tissue layer is involved in adhesion. Adhesion of Cuvierian tubule extracts was measured on the surface of various materials. The extracted protein showed the strongest adhesion to Teflon surface. Increased adhesion was observed in the presence of potassium and EDTA, while cadmium caused a decrease in adhesion. Addition of antibodies and trypsin abolished the adhesive properties of the extract.
糙海参具有一种特殊的系统，称为Cuvierian 管。在机械刺激下，白色的细丝（管）会被排出，并在接触任何物体时变得粘稠。我们从糙海参的 Cuvierian 管蛋白提取物中分离出一种具有粘性的蛋白质。该蛋白是通过针对贻贝 Mytilus galloprovincialis 贻贝丝中存在的重组前胶原 D 的抗体来鉴定的。为了找出最佳的提取和纯化程序，通过几种方法分离出鉴定出的蛋白，包括电洗脱、与玻璃珠结合、免疫沉淀和凝胶过滤。针对分离出的蛋白产生的抗体用于在 Cuvierian 管中定位粘性蛋白。免疫染色和免疫金电子显微镜研究显示，在间皮中具有最强的免疫反应性；该组织层参与粘附。在各种材料表面上测量 Cuvierian 管提取物的粘附力。提取的蛋白质对特氟龙表面的粘附力最强。在存在钾和 EDTA 的情况下观察到粘附力增加，而镉导致粘附力降低。添加抗体和胰蛋白酶会破坏提取物的粘性。
