Metal-Mediated Cross-Linking in the Generation of a Marine-Mussel Adhesive

Abstract

Iron muscles into mussels: Marine mussels adhere to rocks with a protein-based glue. An iron complex is the key curing agent in this adhesive, and the iron center is coordinated by three DOPA residues (see picture). These studies present the first identified case in which a transition-metal center is integral to forming a noncrystalline biological material.