Multiresponsive Liquid Crystal Collagen Guides Mussel Byssus Formation

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Marine Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Marine mussels anchor using strong collagenous byssal threads.
• Thread formation involves liquid crystalline (LC) collagenous precursors (preCols).
• Factors influencing preCol assembly into functional threads are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the structural anisotropy of native and artificial byssal threads.
• To investigate the roles of mechanical shear, pH, and metal ions in thread formation.
• To understand spontaneous versus regulated aspects of thread assembly.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative polarized light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy for structural analysis.
• In vitro assembly studies using a microfluidic flow focusing device.
• Purified preCol secretory vesicles were used for in vitro experiments.

Main Results:

• PreCol LC phases exhibit aligned domains of several hundred microns.
• Native threads show cm-level alignment, not observed in artificial domains.
• Mechanical shear, pH, and metal ions significantly modulate thread structure and properties.

Conclusions:

• Mechanical shear, pH, and metal ions are critical regulators of byssal thread formation.
• Understanding these parameters is key for mimicking natural processes.
• Findings have implications for fabricating collagenous scaffolds for tissue engineering.