Communications Biology· 2026Q1
A compact set of sea star footprint proteins mediates the adhesion of Asterina gibbosa
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A compact set of 9 sea star footprint proteins (Sfps), including one trypsin-like proteinase, mediates underwater adhesion in Asterina gibbosa, with two Sfps (Agib-Sfp7 and Agib-Sfp8) showing distinct labeling patterns on the substrate.
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Key points
- Identified 34 Sfp candidates from proteomics of Asterina gibbosa footprint material.
- Localized 10 Sfps to the tube foot adhesive epidermis via in situ hybridization.
- Discovered 9 Sfps homologous to Asterias rubens Sfps and one trypsin-like proteinase.
- Agib-Sfp7 and Agib-Sfp8 showed distinct footprint labeling patterns on the substrate.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Sea stars achieve strong yet reversible underwater adhesion using a duo-gland system in their tube feet. While adhesive footprint proteins (Sfps) are well characterized in Asterias rubens, comparable molecular data for other asteroids are limited. Here, we generated a high-quality de novo genome assembly of the starlet cushion star, Asterina gibbosa, enabling full-length gene identification of Sfps. Proteomics of deposited footprint material identified 34 candidates; in situ hybridization localized 10 to the tube foot adhesive epidermis. Nine (designated Agib-Sfps) were homologous to known A. rubens Sfps and one encoded a trypsin-like proteinase. Anti-peptide antibodies revealed distinct footprint labelling patterns for Agib-Sfp7 and Agib-Sfp8, although mostly associated to the thin layer in contact with the substrate. Comparative analyses indicate a conserved core adhesive toolkit and domain repertoire between species, alongside species-specific reshuffling of domains across Sfps. These results refine the molecular model of asteroid adhesion and provide targets for sequence recombinant production toward seawater-compatible biomimetic adhesives.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Communications Biology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Aquatic Science
Aquatic ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences