Dynamic bio-interface between mussel tissue and byssus plays important role in quick release

Researchers at McGill University in collaboration with an associate from Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Germany have unearthed aspects of the mechanism mussels utilize for adhering to and detaching from rocks swiftly when necessary.

In their investigation, published in the journal Science, the scientists examined the juncture between mussel tissue and the fibril aggregates mussels deploy to secure themselves to rocks and other structures. Researchers Guoqing Pan and Bin Li, affiliated with Jiangsu University and Soochow University in China, have contributed a Perspective piece in the same edition of the journal, highlighting the findings from this novel study.

Mussels, a type of bivalve mollusk existing in both marine and freshwater settings, possess shells hinged together by ligaments and can tightly seal their shells through muscular contractions. They employ byssus threads, colloquially known as a beard, to latch onto solid surfaces such as rocks.

Due to their novel ability to link nonliving substances (the filaments constituting the threads) with living tissue and to sever this link as desired, mussel byssus has been the subject of intensive investigation. However, as Pan and Li highlight, much of this scrutiny has centered on potential chemical bond mechanisms. This current inquiry pivots attention towards the live dynamics at the bio-interface.

In their pursuit of comprehending how byssus threads fuse with living tissue and the manner in which they can be ejected when required, the research team utilized a diverse array of technological modalities to probe the connections and tissues involved. Employing different imaging techniques coupled with spectroscopy, the team noted that the fibres’ ends interweaved with living tissue strata, which in turn were endowed with an approximate density of 6 billion motile cilia.

They further ascertained that the abundance of cilia allowed for an extensive area of contact, enabling the mechanical interlacing of the two divergent materials. The scientists also observed that the oscillations of the cilia both augmented the anchoring strength between the materials and permitted a hasty detachment when necessary. They discovered that the motion of the cilia was propelled by neurotransmitters, which leads the researchers to postulate that serotonin and dopamine are ultimately responsible for their control.

© 2023 Science X Network