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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

The byssus of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha. I: Morphology and in situ protein processing during maturation.

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, owes its notoriety as a biofouler to its adhesive skills and opportunism. Adhesion by the adult mussel to hard substrata is mediated by a nonliving extracorporeal structure called the byssus, which is superficially similar to the byssus of marine mussels in that it consists of a tight bundle of sclerotized threads tipped by adhesive plaques. Juvenile zebra mussels secrete a homologous structure on settlement, but they also employ an elongated belaying byssus while climbing that consists of an elastic, mucous filament anchored at irregular intervals by a byssal thread and plaque. This multiply anchored belaying line can be 20 to 30 times the mussel length. Histochemical tests show that the thread and plaque of both kinds of byssus contains a complex distribution of proteins that are subject to chemical processing after secretion. This processing may result from the formation of crosslinks following the catecholoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of peptidyl 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine during sclerotization.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

Histological and histochemical observations on the foot glands in some byssus-bearing bivalves of the Waltair coast.

The glands responsible for the formation of the byssus threads in Arca symmetrica, Barbatia obliquata and Septifer bilocularis are the white gland, phenol gland and enzyme gland. Besides these, mucous glands are also present in the sub-epithelia. The size and shape of the cells of these glands vary in one and the same species. From histochemical investigations it has been revealed that these glands contain 1,2-glycol groups in addition to disulphides and sulphhydryls. The white gland secretes a protein material and the phenol gland is rich in phenols. These two combine to form a phenolic protein which is acted upon by a polyphenol oxidase secreted by the enzyme gland and leads to the formation of a byssus thread. The mucous gland cells secrete acid mucopolysaccharides, neutral mucins and glycoproteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The byssus of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha. II: Structure and polymorphism of byssal polyphenolic protein families.

The byssus of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is the key element of its adhesive strategy. It consists of a bundle of threads tipped by adhesive plaques and attached to the mussel at the base of its byssal-synthesizing organ, the foot. Two polyphenolic protein precursors of the byssus have been purified from the foot. These precursors, Dpfp-1 and Dpfp-2 (Dreissena polymorpha foot protein), with apparent M(r) values of 76 and 26 K, respectively, contain 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) integrated into their primary sequence, but differ from previously characterized polyphenolic proteins from marine mussels. The related quagga mussel (Dreissena spp.?) has homologous proteins with significantly different compositions. The zebra mussel DOPA proteins are tandemly repetitive with unique oligopeptide motif sequences, contain tryptophan, and are O-glycosylated primarily on threonine residues. Galactosamine was the only carbohydrate detected after hydrolysis. Dpfp-1 constitutes a polymorphic family of polypeptides with, unusually, an acidic range of pI values between 5.3 and 6.5. The detection of carbohydrate in the thread and in the juncture between thread and plaque suggests that these two proteins are localized in those regions where they may function as lacquers or structural elements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

The effect of lanthanum on the nexus of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis L.

The nexus of the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus has been observed with freeze-fracture techniques. Pits appear in the EF face and particles in the PF face, designating it as an A-type nexus. Under control conditions (lanthanum-free) the center-to-center spacing of pits and particles ranged from 14.0 nm to 15.5 nm. When lanthanum chloride (5 mM) was used in incubation media before fixation and glycerination, marked changes in the nexal membrane were observed. These changes involved close packing and long-range ordering of pits in the EF face, as shown by optical diffraction. In the presence of lanthanum the center-to-center spacing of the pits was 11.7 nm, while the particles remained at a spacing of 15.0 nm. From this we conclude that specific agents can alter the array of pits and particles in a nexus (gap junction).

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The structure and formation of the byssus attachment plaque in Mytilus.

The byssus attachment plaque and the tissues responsible for its formation were studied in M. californianus by light microscopy and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that the plaque consists of at least three phases which ultrastructurally resemble three secretions considered to be collagen, mucoid material and polyphenol. The mucoid and polyphenol appear to mix as a colloidal suspension in which the latter is the continuous phase and forms the definitive bonding surface. Plaque collagen represents an extension of thread material into the cementing substance. Stimulated secretion within the ducts and distal depression of the mussel's foot shows a continuum of increasing heterogeneity from the inner toward the outer regions. This reflects the distribution of exocrine cell apices wherein exocytosis of polyphenol granules predominate deeply, mucous granules superficially and collagen granules in between. It is proposed that the morphology of the plaque conforms to theoretical physical-chemical requirements for adhesion under water.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1986

Composition and ultrastructure of the byssus of Mytilus edulis.

Three regions of the byssus of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis L. are distinct in structural organization at the macroscopic and microscopic level and in amino acid composition. The threads that emanate from the stem at the base of the foot are divided into two regions. The proximal, elastic region has a crimped, densely staining cortex enclosing an interior matrix of spiral fibers, and its amino acid composition reflects protein heterogeneity. The more distal, rigid region has a straight, tubular cortex surrounding an inner matrix of linearly arranged bundles of fibrils and has a composition approximating pure collagen. The plaque, or disc-shaped portion, which mediates attachment to various substrates, is distinguished by a surface matrix of collagen-like fibers similar to those of the thread region and anchored on an inner spongy matrix. Compositional evidence exists for a collagenous component, a catechol-rich protein, and at least one other accessory protein in the plaque.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

In situ analysis of peptidyl DOPA in mussel byssus using rotational-echo double-resonance NMR.

Rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) 13C NMR spectra with 2H dephasing have been obtained from plaques and threads from the byssus of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis labeled by sea-water exposure to L-[ring-4-(13)C]tyrosine and L-[ring-d4]tyrosine for 2 days. Specific isotopic enrichment of tyrosine in protein reached 25% in both 13C and 2H. Fifteen percent of the total 13C label was incorporated as diphenolic carbon. Based on REDOR dephasing, about one-tenth of tyrosine rings in both intact plaques and threads are within 4 A of each other or rings of 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (DOPA). However, there is no direct evidence for the formation of covalent linkages between or among tyrosine and DOPA rings in either plaques or threads.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Histochemical and ultrastructural study on the innervation of the byssus glands of Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The aluminium-formaldehyde (ALFA) histofluorescence method reveals an extensive plexus of brilliant greenish monoaminergic elements in the glandular zones of the Mytilus foot, while only scanty nerve fibres are acetylcholinesterase-positive. By electron microscopy, bundles of nerve fibres can be seen i) in close connection with the intrinsic musculature located in the connective septa among the glands, and ii) near the cell bodies and necks of all the byssus glands. The nerve fibres show varicosities containing three types of vesicles: small clear (50-60 nm), small granular (80-90 nm), and large granular (160-200 nm). The regions of close apposition between nerve terminals and muscle or gland cells generally do not show typical pre- or postsynaptic specializations. Along the pedal groove, mainly in the proximal two thirds of the foot, peripheral bipolar neurons can be detected, both by fluorescence and electron microscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Degeneration of monoamine nerves in anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus induced by 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine.

Preliminary ultrastructural studies on the effects of 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) on the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus show degeneration of 2 types of monoaminergic nerves after 10 days of drug treatment. One type contained large granular vesicles (560-1,680 A) possibly represent serotonergic and dopaminergic nerves, thought to innervate this muscle. Two other types of profiles seemed to be unaffected by the drug. One conforms to cholinergic nerves while the other has a predominance of large opaque vesicles (1,200-2,500 A). The significance of these findings is discussed in the light of recent observations on the neurotoxic effects of 5,6-DHT on vertebrate and molluscan nerves.

5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine↗
PubMed1977

[Innervation of the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) in Mytilus edulis L. III. Histochemical localisation of the terminal nerves through 5-hydroxytryptamine (author's transl)].

Detection of nerve structures containing 5-HT were described in the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) in Mytilus edulis L. after using the fluorescence microscope technique of Flack. We are able to confirm our previous results and assumptions given by histology and electron microscope studies: the neuromuscular "en passage" junctions, largely distributed within the ABRM, contain 5-HT.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and forskolin on intracellular free calcium in isolated and fura-2 loaded smooth-muscle cells from the anterior byssus retractor (catch) muscle of Mytilus edulis.

Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and forskolin on intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) were studied in suspensions of fura-2 loaded smooth-muscle cells from the anterior byssus retractor 'catch' muscle of Mytilus edulis. The successive addition of 5 mM carbachol (CCh) and 100 mM KCl to the suspension evoked a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i from the resting value of 124 +/- 2.7 nM (mean +/- SE, n = 18) to 300-400 nM, which was associated with contraction. The change in [Ca2+]i induced CCh was concentration-dependent with the EC50 of 10(-5) M. The resting [Ca2+]i was unaffected by 10 microM 5-HT. The change in [Ca2+]i induced by 5 mM CCh was suppressed by 5-HT from 167 +/- 14.0 (n = 11) to 124 +/- 14.9 (n = 8) nM whereas that induced by 100 mM KCl was enhanced from 321 +/- 31.9 to 405 +/- 17.6 nM (n = 8). 5-HT applied during the decaying phase of the CCh response caused a rapid decline in [Ca2+]i. In both the responses to CCh and KCl, the falling phase was accelerated by 5-HT. 10 microM forskolin, a potent activator of adenylate cyclase, mimicked the effects of 5-HT as did a membrane-permeant cyclic AMP analogue, 8-parachlorophenylthio cyclic AMP (cpt-cAMP). Application of 100 microM cpt-cAMP partially suppressed the Ca2+i response to CCh and enhanced that to KCl. D-Tubocurarine (500 microM) added during the decaying phase of the response induced by 100 microM CCh, caused a rapid decline in [Ca2+]i similar to that caused by both 5-HT and forskolin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and acetylcholine on accumulation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis L. (Mollusca).

We investigated in vitro accumulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine) and of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (induced by acetylcholine) in the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus. The response to 5-hydroxytryptamine exceeded that induced by equimolar concentrations of dopamine. 1-methyl lysergic acid, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-blocking agent, diminished the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced increase of cyclic AMP level. This parallels the effect of this amine on the contracted muscle. Acetylcholine, which causes a tonic contraction of the muscle, increased intracellular levels of cyclic GMP in a dose-dependent (max. 45-fold at 10(-4) M ACh) manner. The time course of the rise in cyclic GMP level was rapid and transient (peak concentration of cyclic GMP at 2 min). Mytolon was the most effective of all cholinergic blockers tested. It was concluded that cyclic nucleotides may play a role in the modulatory process of the transmitters. A direct relation to the relaxation-contraction process could not be established.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Mg-ATPase activity and motility of native thick filaments isolated from the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis.

A method for isolating native thick filaments from the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus edulis is described. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the isolated thick filament preparation contained mainly paramyosin and myosin but almost no actin. Electron microscopy of negatively stained preparations showed that the isolated thick filaments were tapered at both ends and of various sizes, in the range 5-31 microns in length and 51-94nm in width in the central region. Central bare zones were observed in the smaller filaments, but were not clearly seen in the larger filaments. Mg-ATPase activity of the isolated thick filaments was activated by skeletal muscle F-actin in a Ca2+-dependent manner. The maximal activity was about 20 nmol min-1 mg-1 thick filaments (20 degrees C, pH7.0). Motility of the thick filaments attached to latex beads (diameter, 2 microns) was also studied using the native actin cables of the freshwater alga, Chara. In the presence of Mg-ATP and Ca2+, the beads moved along the actin cables at a maximal velocity of about 1 micron s-1. In the absence of Ca2+, almost no movement was observed. These results show that the isolated thick filaments are structurally intact and retain the essential mechanochemical characteristics of the ABRM myosin.

Actins↗
PubMed1991

Changes in sarcoplasmic metabolite concentrations and pH associated with the catch contraction and relaxation of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis measured by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance.

The sarcoplasmic concentrations of phosphorus metabolites and pH (pHin) were measured in the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus edulis by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. During an active contraction induced by 10(-3) acetylcholine, the concentration of arginine phosphate ([Arg-P]in) decreased from the resting value of 7.47 +/- 0.26 (mean +/- SE, n = 8) to 6.67 +/- 0.29 (n = 6) mumol g-1, and that of inorganic phosphate (Pi) consistently increased from 0.84 +/- 0.06 (n = 7) to 1.61 +/- 0.12 (n = 5) mumol g-1. In the 'catch' state following the active contraction, these concentrations were close to their resting levels, indicating that the catch is an inactive state. 5-hydroxytryptamine caused a rapid relaxation of the catch, which was associated with a slight decrease in [Arg-P]in and an increase in pHin by ca 0.2 units. The sarcoplasmic concentration of ATP (mean, 1.6 mumol g-1) did not change throughout the contraction-relaxation cycle.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

The 'catch' mechanism in molluscan muscle: an electron microscopy study of freeze-substituted anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis.

A method for quick-freezing muscles while observing their mechanical properties until the moment of freezing is described. This method was used to freeze the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus edulis. Intact muscle in the presence of sucrose as a cryoprotectant was freeze-substituted in acetone, fixed and embedded for electron microscopy. ABRM was frozen in a number of mechanical states including 'catch', the state of high passive tension particularly associated with some molluscan muscles. Transverse sections were examined to determine the distribution of filaments in the muscle cells. In the relaxed muscle thick and thin filaments are fairly randomly distributed. Groups of thin filaments and of thick filaments are often seen, and there is no obvious association between the two types of filaments. In contrast, in rigor muscles, both glycerol-extracted and intact, most of the thin filaments were found to lie in rings or rosettes around the thick filaments. In some places bridges between thick and thin filaments could be distinguished. In actively contracting muscle (phasic contraction) the appearance is intermediate between that of the relaxed and rigor muscles. Many thick filaments are surrounded by rosettes of thin filaments but many of the thin filaments are grouped and have no connections with thick filaments. The 'catch' state, left after a period of tonic contraction, is similar in its distribution of thick and thin filaments to the active state, many of the thin filaments lying between the thick. Frequently thick and thin filaments seem to be closer together than in other states of the muscle where a pronounced exclusion zone is present around the thick filaments. There is no evidence for association between the thick filaments. The different distribution of thin filaments in the different states is consistent with the previously described X-ray diffraction data if it is assumed that most of the contribution to the equatorial reflection at 12 nm comes from the groups of thin filaments. Our data support a model for catch in which there is a change in the association between thick and thin filaments, rather than one in which thick filaments are clumped.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1993

Further identification of bioactive peptides in the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus: two contractile and three inhibitory peptides.

1. Two contractile and three inhibitory peptides were newly isolated from the anterior byssus retractor muscles (ABRMs) of the bivalve mollusc Mytilus edulis by using the muscle as the bioassay system. 2. The structures of the two contractile peptides were GPFGTHIKamide (GPFG-8) and GPFGLNKHGamide (GPFG-9). The contractile response of the ABRM to the first-time application of GPFG-8 or GPFG-9 was of considerable size. The threshold concentrations of the peptides were around 10(-9) M. However, the contractile response to the second-time application was far smaller than that to the first-time application in both cases. Namely, the muscle showed tachyphylaxis to the peptides. 3. Two of the three inhibitory peptides were members of the Mytilus-inhibitory-peptide (MIP) family. Their structures were RAPLFIamide (MIP6) and RSPMFVamide (MIP7). The peptides, as well as the other MIPs previously identified, showed a potent inhibitory effect on phasic contraction of the ABRM in response to repetitive electrical stimulation. The remaining one was an MIP-related peptide (MIP-RP) having the sequence of MRYFVamide. The MIP-RP was less potent than the two MIPs in inhibiting the contraction of the ABRM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Carbachol and KCl-induced changes in intracellular free calcium concentration in isolated, fura-2 loaded smooth-muscle cells from the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis.

Intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]1) was measured in suspensions of fura-2 loaded smooth-muscle cells isolated from the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis. Successive application of 5mM carbachol (CCh) and 100mM KCl to the cells transiently elevated [Ca2+]1 from the resting value of 124 +/- 4.5nM (mean +/- S.E., n = 14) to 295 +/- 15.3 and 383 +/- 20.5 nM, respectively. The response to CCh was concentration-dependent with an ED50 of 10(-5) M. Under the microscope, 67 +/- 3.0 and 83 +/- 1.3 % of fura-2 loaded cells contracted on the addition of 5mM CCh and 100mM KCl, respectively. In Ca2+ -free sea water, the CCh induced change in [Ca2+]1 was partially suppressed whereas that induced by KCl was completely abolished, suggesting an agonist-evoked release of stored Ca2+.

Animals↗