Mechanical characterization of an unusual elastic biomaterial from the egg capsules of marine snails (Busycon spp.)

Abstract

Egg capsule material serves as a putative protection mechanism for developing snail embryos facing the perils of the marine environment. We conducted the first quantitative study of this acellular structural protein with the goals of characterizing its chemical and mechanical properties and the relationship of these properties to its biological protective function. We have found that this protein polymer exhibits long-range elasticity with an interesting recoverable yield evidenced by an order of magnitude decrease in elastic modulus (apparent failure) that begins at 3%-5% strain. This material differs significantly from other common structural proteins such as collagen and elastin in mechanical response to strain. Qualitative similarities in stress/strain behavior to keratin, another common structural protein, are more than coincidental when composition and detailed mechanical quantification are considered. This suggests the possibility of alpha-helical structure and matrix organization that might be similar in these two proteins. Indeed, the egg capsule protein may be closely related to vertebrate keratins such as intermediate filaments. We conclude that while this material's bimodal tensile properties may serve as useful protection against the impact loading egg capsules encounter in the intertidal zone, the full biological importance of these capsules is not known.