Interspecies comparison of the mechanical properties and biochemical composition of byssal threads.
Several bivalve species produce byssus threads to provide attachment to substrates, with mechanical properties highly variable among species. Here, we examined the distal section of byssal threads produced by a range of bivalve species (Mytilus edulis,Mytilus trossulus,Mytilus galloprovincialis,Mytilus californianus,Pinna nobilis,Perna perna,Xenostrobus securis,Brachidontes solisianusandIsognomon bicolor) collected from different nearshore environments. Morphological and mechanical properties were measured, and biochemical analyses were performed. Multivariate redundancy analyses on mechanical properties revealed that byssal threads ofM. californianus,M. galloprovincialisandP. nobilishave very distinct mechanical behaviours compared with the remaining species. Extensibility, strength and force were the main variables separating these species groups, which were highest forM. californianusand lowest forP. nobilisFurthermore, the analysis of the amino acid composition revealed thatI. bicolorandP. nobilisthreads are significantly different from the other species, suggesting a different underlying structural strategy. Determination of metal contents showed that the individual concentration of inorganic elements varies, but that the dominant elements are conserved between species. Altogether, this bivalve species comparison suggests some molecular bases for the biomechanical characteristics of byssal fibres that may reflect phylogenetic limitations.
Institut des Science de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, Canada, G5L 3A1.
Zeineb
Z
Bouhlel
Département de Chimie, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3P8.
Bertrand
B
Genard
Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7.
Neilly
N
Ibrahim
Department of Biology and Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, 620 University Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA.
Emily
E
Carrington
Department of Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, Vigo 36208, Spain.
José M F
JM
Babarro
Aynur Lok, Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Genclik Caddesi No. 1235040 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
Aynur
A
Lok
Centro de biologia marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, Rod, Maniel Hipólito, do Rego, São Sebastião, SP, 11600-000, Brazil.
Augusto A V
AA
Flores
Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7.
Christian
C
Pellerin
Institut des Science de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, Canada, G5L 3A1 rejean_tremblay@uqar.ca marcotte.isabelle@uqam.ca.
Réjean
R
Tremblay
Département de Chimie, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3P8 rejean_tremblay@uqar.ca marcotte.isabelle@uqam.ca.
Isabelle
0000-0001-7467-7119
I
Marcotte
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
D000596:Amino Acids; D008670:Metals
Amino acids; Bivalves; Byssus; Mechanical properties; Metals