Adhesive studies of synthetic polypeptides: A model for marine adhesive proteins

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Abstract
As a basic approach to clarify the adhesive power of marine proteins, the bonding strength (tensile and compressive shear) of a variety of synthetic polypeptides including polydecapeptide dissolved in water or organic solvents on metals (Fe and Al2O3) and rubber (Buna) has been investigated. High-molecular-weight poly(Lys) HBr was found to have the highest tensile strength of 123 kg/cm2 on Fe, whereas gelatin showed the highest compressive shear strength of 21 kg/cm2 on Al2O3 and 20 kg/cm2 on Buna. Water-soluble polypeptides containing lysyl residues were effective adhesives on metals. For polypeptides dissolved in organic solvents, poly(DLMet) in dicholoromethane showed the maximum adhesive strength on metals. Synthetic poly(Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Hyp-Hyp-Thr-Dopa-Lys 2HBr)n (n=10), which is a sequence of the adhesive proteins from marine mussels, exhibited a tensile strength of 28 kg/cm2 on Fe and a compressive shear strength of 3 kg/ cm2 on Al2O3 and 2 kg/cm2 on Buna. The bonding strength is compared with those of natural marine adhesive proteins.