The structural and chemical basis of temporary adhesion in the sea star Asterina gibbosa

• Birgit Lengerer,
• Marie Bonneel,
• Mathilde Lefevre,
• Elise Hennebert,
• Philippe Leclère,
• Emmanuel Gosselin,
• Peter Ladurner and
• Patrick Flammang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2071–2086, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.196

• tested 24 commercially available lectins and two antibodies for their ability to label the adhesive epidermis and footprints. Out of 15 lectins labelling structures in the area of the duo-gland adhesive system, only one also labelled footprints indicating the presence of glycoconjugates with α-linked

• adhesion and might facilitate the development of biomimetic, reversible glues. Keywords: duo-gland adhesive system; lectins; marine temporary adhesion; starfish; Introduction Marine biological adhesives are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and adhere to various surfaces in the challenging

• adhesive epidermis. In most asteroids a duo-gland adhesive system with two adhesive gland cell types and one de-adhesive gland type is present [11]. In A. gibbosa, the secretory gland cell bodies of the duo-gland adhesive system were located in the basal part of the disc epidermis and sent long necks to