Critical role of zinc in hardening of Nereis jaws | Zendy

Chris C. Broomell | Zendy; Mike A. Mattoni | Zendy; Frank W. Zok | Zendy; J. Herbert Waite | Zendy

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Critical role of zinc in hardening of Nereis jaws

Author(s) -

Chris C. Broomell,

Mike A. Mattoni,

Frank W. Zok,

J. Herbert Waite

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

journal of experimental biology

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 1.367

H-Index - 185

eISSN - 1477-9145

pISSN - 0022-0949

DOI - 10.1242/jeb.02373

Subject(s) - nanoindentation , zinc , modulus , histidine , hardening (computing) , materials science , chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , amino acid , biochemistry , layer (electronics)

Hardening of invertebrate jaws and mandibles has been previously correlated to diverse, potentially complex modifications. Here we demonstrate directly, for the first time, that Zn plays a critical role in the mechanical properties of histidine-rich Nereis jaws. Using nanoindentation, we show that removal of Zn by chelation decreases both hardness and modulus by over 65%. Moreover, reconstitution of Zn yields a substantial recovery of initial properties. Modulus and hardness of Zn-replete jaws exceed those attainable by current engineering polymers by a factor of >3. Zn-mediated histidine cross-links are proposed to account for this enhancement in mechanical properties.

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