Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
Published on: October 17, 2014
Anti-adhesive properties of fish tropomyosins
R M Vejborg1, N Bernbom, L Gram
1Microbial Adhesion Group, BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
Aims:
We have recently found that preconditioning of stainless steel surfaces with an aqueous fish muscle extract can significantly impede bacterial adhesion. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the primary components associated with this bacteria-repelling effect.
Methods And Results:
The anti-adhesive activity was assayed against Escherchia coli K-12, and bacterial adhesion was quantified by crystal violet staining and sonication methods. Proteolytic digestion, elution and fractionation experiments revealed that the anti-adhesive activity of the extract was linked to the formation of a proteinaceous conditioning film composed primarily of fish tropomyosins. These fibrous proteins formed a considerable anti-adhesive conditioning layer on and reduced bacterial adhesion to several different materials including polystyrene, vinyl plastic, stainless steel and glass. The protein adsorption profiles obtained from the various materials did not differ significantly, but elution was often incomplete making minor qualitative/quantitative differences indiscernible.
Conclusions:
The data highlights the significance of protein conditioning films on bacterial adhesion and emphasizes the importance of substratum's physiochemical properties and exposure time with regards to protein adsorption/elution efficiency and subsequent bacterial adhesion.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Fish tropomyosin-coatings could potentially offer a nontoxic and relatively inexpensive measure of reducing bacterial colonization of inert surfaces.
Related Concept Videos
Antibody Structure
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
Antibody Structure and Classes
The basic structure of an antibody consists of four protein chains: two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains. These chains are held together by disulfide bonds and other non-covalent interactions, forming a Y-shaped structure.
Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
The Sarcomere
Each myosin...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...

