Releasing mechanism in flatworm temporary bioadhesion

Macrostomid flatworms can attach strongly and release several times in a second from all substrates in diverse aquatic environments. This remarkable ability renders them prime candidates with which to examine temporary bioadhesion. In a previous study, the Ladurner lab identified two glue proteins in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano. However, while the proteins involved in the adhesion stage of the attachment process have been elucidated in diverse flatworm species, candidates for the releasing stage remain elusive. No candidate protein for the releasing mechanism was found so far, and no marker for the releasing gland cell was identified. Therefore, we hypothesize that proteins or molecules involved in the release process are not exclusively tail-specific and thus remained undetected in the past tail-specific screens. In the proposed project, we attempt to answer this question, and we will run an innovative pipeline for the identification of molecules involved in flatworm detachment. We plan to employ a state-of-the-art strategy including genome sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing on a new macrostomid species. Gene expression studies will be performed to obtain a genetic fingerprint of most cell types of the animal. The obtained data will lead to a comprehensive profile of the genes of the releasing gland cells. These genes will be tested for their involvement in the detachment mechanism. Specific experiments will be designed to further characterize the releasing process. We expect the results to provide insight into the biology behind the release mechanism, which bears potential for technical innovation and a future generation of a biotechnologically produced reversible glue with potential applications in both medicine and industry.