... by the terrestrial slug Arion subfuscus. This glue contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper. These metals are essential to the integrity of the glue and to gel stiffening. Removal of all metals caused at least a 15-fold decrease in the storage modulus of the glue. Selectively disrupting cross...

...Andrew Bradshaw; Michael Salt; Ashley Bell; Matt Zeitler; Noelle Litra; Andrew M. Smith SUMMARY The terrestrial slug Arion subfuscus secretes a glue that is a dilute gel with remarkable adhesive and cohesive strength. The function of this glue depends on metals, raising the possibility that metal...

...S. W. Werneke; C. Swann; L. A. Farquharson; K. S. Hamilton; A. M. Smith SUMMARY Several gastropod molluscs produce glues that are interesting because they are dilute gels and yet they produce strong adhesion. Specific glue proteins have been identified that play a central role in this adhesion...

... of the mesoglea of A. labiata was measured using a fibre optic oxygen optode, and oxygen profiles through the gel are characterised by a gradient that decreases from just below normoxia at the aboral subsurface to ∼85% air saturation near the subumbrellar musculature. This gradient sustains oxyregulation...

...J. M. Pawlicki; L. B. Pease; C. M. Pierce; T. P. Startz; Y. Zhang; A. M. Smith SUMMARY Several molluscs have been shown to alternate between a non-adhesive trail mucus and a similar gel that forms a strong glue. The major structural difference between the two secretions is the presence of specific...