Molecular Superglue

Summary:

          Mark Howarth and his team at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom genetically engineered a super glue from a protein, FbaB. FbaB helps Streptococcus pyogenes, a type of bacteria, infect cells. The bacteria is one of the microbes that can cause flesh-eating bacteria syndrome in which the infections destroy a person's body tissue. The super glue resists high and low temperatures, acids and other harsh conditions and seals quickly.

Molecular structure of Nanoglue

          They split FbaB into two parts, a larger protein and a smaller protein subunit. They named the small peptide "SpyTag" and the larger protein "SpyCatcher." The gluing action occurs when SpyTag and SpyCatcher meet. They quickly lock together by forming one of the strongest possible chemical bonds. SpyCatcher and SpyTag can be attached to the millions of proteins in the human body and other living things, thus gluing proteins together.

          With this new technology, we can lock proteins together in ways that could prevent many diseases from harming people. For example, we can use this superglue for early detection of cancer cells circulating in the blood.

NOS Themes:

•  Science is collaborative- Mark Howard and his team collaborated together to discover the superglue.
• Science is based on evidence- Mark Howard and his team found evidence of how FbaB helps Streptococcus pyogenes infect cells; two subunits of the protein lock together and form a strong chemical bond.
• Role of chance- The Oxford team was studying Streptococcus pyogenes and FbaB, and happened to find out that FbaB has a superglue affect to its bonds.

Article Link:
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/04/11/a_molecular_superglue_based_on_flesheating_bacteria.html

Related Links:

• http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/08/13/how_flesheating_bacteria_attack_the_bodys_immune_system.html
• http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2006/09/27/solved_the_mystery_of_flesheating_bacterias_relentless_attack.html
• http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/03/25/detecting_circulating_tumor_cells.html