COLL 345 |
| Jaws of a polychaete worm, Nereis virens (commonly known as a clamworm), are hard, abrasion-resistant and lightweight. Nereis hunts for prey in sediment grains; everting its proboscis and burrowing by crack propagation. The surface and core regions of the jaw have distinct morphologies. We have made use of high resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) to elucidate ultrastructure and various inorganic elements in the jaw. We have found that the jaws contain halogens, zinc, silicon and aluminum, to name a few. Some halogens are bound to proteins and mainly localized to the outer coating. Surface analyses of jaws have allowed depth profiling and chemical states of the specific inorganic elements. SEM suggests a granular appearance of the jaw coating. The bio-composite surface displays unique mechanical properties and may serve as a protective coating. Halogens may enhance the resistance of proteinaceous material against decay by bacteria and fungi, given their role in other organisms. In this work the relationship of inorganics to the chemical, structural, mechanical and microbial properties of the Nereis jaws is described. |
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Structure, Interactions and Reactivity at Microbial Surfaces
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 104, Poster
Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry |