Determination of the energy landscape among biological macromolecules: The mucin-alginate case

Abstract

Luminal epithelial surfaces of our body are covered by a secreted layer of mucus consisting chiefly of water (95%), high molecular weight polymeric glycoproteins known as mucins (3%), and other small molecules (2%). If this layer infected by bacterial alginate it will cause the mucus being sticky.Cystic fibrosis is a complex, incurable, chronic, hereditary disease involving several body organs systems, which affects the body glands that produce mucus and sweat. Although multiple microbial species can colonize the CF lung, CF patients are particularly have infected by an alginate secreting bacteria, which is called Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, it can be one of the major cause of decline in lung function and death. Alginate can significantly increase the elasticity and viscosity of the mucus. Alginates are relatively abundant in nature because they arise both as a structural component in marine brown algae (Phaeophyceae), comprising up to 40% of the dry matter, and as capsular polysaccharides in soil bacteria. Alginates are naturally occurring polysaccharides synthesized in brown algae and certain types of bacteria and have been extensively used as hydrogel synthetic ECMs. In this study interactions of different concentration of Mucin and different alginates are considered, their force jumps of single molecule interactions collected and analysed by Lifetime analysis and Bell Evans analysis. Presence of Ca 2+ and its significant influence on mucin-alginate bonds are studied as well.