The Mechanisms of Adhesion of Enteromorpha Clathrata.

TL;DRAbstract

The mechanism of attachment of Enteromorpha clathrata was determined. The attachment process consisted of three phases. In the first phase (reversible adhesion) cells of E. clathrata were held weakly to a negative surface at a point called the secondary minimum where the forces of attraction (van der Waal) and repulsion (electrostatic) were in equilibrium. The cells were prevented from closer contact and subsequent stronger attachment by the strong primary repulsive forces. When the surface was a hydrophobic one, then this initial attraction was due to hydrophobic interaction on the part of cell and surface. Unlike bacterial attachment, E. clathrata was found to attach a wide variety of surfaces including surfaces with absorbed proteins of a wode range of isolectric points. As the cells began to grow and develop rhizoidal filaments, they produced an extracellular polymer. This polymer was composed of carbohydrate and protein. This extracellular polymer (adhesive material) allowed the c

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