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Related Concept Videos

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...

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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression
07:47

The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression

Published on: August 8, 2018

Barnacle cement: a polymerization model based on evolutionary concepts.

Gary H Dickinson1, Irving E Vega, Kathryn J Wahl

  • 1Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|October 20, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Barnacle cement uses a protein polymerization process similar to blood clotting. This conserved mechanism involves enzyme activation and cross-linking, aiding larval settlement and potentially other marine adhesives.

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Calcium Carbonate Formation in the Presence of Biopolymeric Additives
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09:31

Calcium Carbonate Formation in the Presence of Biopolymeric Additives

Published on: May 14, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Marine Biology

Background:

  • Barnacle cement polymerization is vital for survival but poorly understood.
  • Enzymes and biochemical pathways essential for life are highly conserved evolutionarily.
  • Barnacle cement involves protein aggregation and cross-linking, similar to blood clotting.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biochemical mechanisms of barnacle cement polymerization.
  • To test the hypothesis that barnacle cement formation resembles blood clotting.
  • To identify conserved protein polymerization mechanisms in marine organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of barnacle cement and blood clotting pathways.
  • Identification of homologous enzymes and sequences using tandem mass spectrometry and Western blotting.
  • Investigating the role of proteolytic activation and transglutaminase cross-linking.

Main Results:

  • Barnacle cement polymerization involves proteolytic enzyme activation, transglutaminase cross-linking, and fibrous protein assembly.
  • Homologous sequences to bovine trypsin and human transglutaminase were identified in barnacle cement.
  • Proteolytic peptides act as signaling molecules, linking protein aggregation to larval settlement behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Barnacle cement polymerization shares conserved biochemical mechanisms with blood clotting.
  • This process is analogous to wound healing and may be common in marine glues.
  • The study reveals a conserved protein polymerization mechanism with implications for marine adhesives.