The Mechanically Adaptive Connective Tissue Of Echinoderms: Its Potential For Bio-Innovation In Applied Technology And Ecology

Marine Environmental Research xxx (2011) 1e6

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Marine Environmental Research
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/marenvrev

The mechanicallyadaptive connective tissue of echinoderms: Its potential for bio-innovation in applied technology and ecology
A. Barbaglio a, *, S. Tricarico a, A. Ribeiro b, C. Ribeiro b, c, M. Sugni a, C. DiBenedetto a, I. Wilkie d, M. Barbosa b, F. Bonasoro a, M.D. Candia Carnevali a
a

Biology Dept., University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universityof Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal ISEP-Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Dept. de Física, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal dBiological and Biomedical Sciences Dept., Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
b c

a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history: Received 30 May 2011 Received in revisedform 1 July 2011 Accepted 28 July 2011 Keywords: Echinoderms Connective tissue Marine ecology Biotechnology Biomaterials Mutability Benthos

a b s t r a c t
Echinoderms possess unique connectivetissues, called mutable collagenous tissues (MCTs), which undergo nervously mediated, drastic and reversible or irreversible changes in their mechanical properties. Connective tissue mutability influencesall aspects of echinoderm biology and is a key-factor in the ecological success of the phylum. Due to their sensitivity to endogenous or exogenous agents, MCTs may be targets for a number of commonpollutants, with potentially drastic effects on vital functions. Besides its ecological relevance, MCT represents a topic with relevance to several applied fields. A promising research route looks at MCTsas a source of inspiration for the development of novel biomaterials. This contribution presents a review of MCT biology, which incorporates recent ultrastructural, biomolecular and biochemical...