Mollusk secretion may aid wounds
February 1, 1998 less than 1 minute read
Mollusk secretion may aid wounds
The marine mussel may become more than just a tasty appetizer. A protein synthesized by the black, clam-like mollusk appears to accelerate healing of human wounds, according to researchers from Auckland University in New Zealand. The protein forms a strong natural glue that allows the shellfish to stick to rocks.The substance also shows promise as an adhesive to join human cells, says Carol Taylor, a lecturer in organic chemistry at the university. If the body does not reject the protein, it might preclude the need for stitches.
"Unlike stitches, the adhesive would not need to be removed. The protein would break down and disappear,’’ she says. It took Taylor and doctorate student Claudette Weir several years to assemble the chain of 10 amino acids that compose the protein. They hope to have manufactured the protein within a year.
The findings were presented at the American Chemical Society’s National Organic Symposium in Texas last summer.
Chemists at the University of Connecticut first isolated the protein’s components in 1985, but incorrectly identified one of the amino acids. The mistake wasn’t corrected until 1994, and research into the protein’s synthesis started anew. Taylor called the production of the correct amino acid one of the team’s greatest challenges because it is not commercially available.
Once the protein has been successfully manufactured, it will be tested for suitability for use in the human body.
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