Snail mucus for multiple functions

• Applicant: Dr. Franziska Jehle
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 538037785

Snail mucus is a biomaterial with multiple and even antagonistic functions. It mainly consists of water, proteins and carbohydrate-rich molecules and is used by snails for lubrication, adhesion, defense and protection. To this date, we lack understanding of the orchestra of building blocks responsible for this astonishing diversity of properties and the physicochemical mechanisms at play. A comparative analysis of all mucus types in one snail species as well as a thorough material characterization are inexistent. Thus, the aim of the current proposal is to unravel the key factors underlying the observed multiple functions by comparing five different mucus types from a single snail species (Cepaea nemoralis). We will start with investigating how hierarchical architecture and differences in composition contribute to the material properties by using a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (work package 1). This is followed by the isolation of building blocks from different mucus types via HPLC (work package 2). In particular, we aim to determine how the absence or presence of specific proteins in different mucus types influences their properties, since previous studies on marine snails showed that minimal changes in the mucus composition cause a switch between adhesion and lubrication. A proteomic workflow will enable us to identify these variations and thus to find key building blocks (work package 3). In addition, we will address how carbohydrate-rich molecules contribute to the observed mucus properties, since their role remains largely unknown (work package 3). Based on our findings from work packages 1 to 3, we aim to investigate how the structure, composition and especially the identified and characterized building blocks and their physicochemical properties contribute to the multiple functions of snail mucus (work package 4). For this, we will either focus on the in-depth characterization of a specific mucus type or compare different mucus types.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants