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Biochemical studies of benthic and pelagic mucilagine This is a Collaborative Research Project involving researchers from the Department of Biosystems and Applied Sciences (University of Cagliari) and the Department of Bichemical Sciences (University of Rome La Sapienza ). Major aim of research is to study the biochemical composition and properties of benthic and pelagic mucilage. In mucous samples have been collected from the coastal sea of Sardinia (gulf of Cagliari) and the east of Italy (Adriatic). Our interest is particularly focused on the structure-function relationships of the glycoshell surrounding the microorganisms forming and at once embedded into the mucilage matrix. This predominantly contains negatively charged acidic mucopolysaccharides forming a complex network that serve many important functions by creating a microenvironment which allows the microorganisms to operate, metabolize and reproduce more efficiently. We have assumed that the tridimensional super structure of the matrix is organized in cavities exposing to the marine water-phase the negatively charged residues. These can act as an electrostatic trap for small ( M.W. ~ 1000 Da ) organic compounds, such as ruthenium red and alcian blue, used by us to probe the presence of the acidic residues.
Copyright © 2000 - University of Cagliari (Italy) - All right reserved 
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Experiments
carried out using higher molecular weight polycations, such as cytochrome
c (M,W.=12384 Da) have shown that the cavities can also allocate larger
molecules. The comparative analysis of the cytochrome c binding profiles,
expressed by native and artificially fragmented (by sonication) mucilage,
suggests that polycations may play an important structural role in the
formation and stabilization of the matrix cavities 
University
of Cagliari - Italy
University
of Roma - Italy