Compositions and methods related to proteins capable of reversible transition to a melt

Abstract

Provided are compositions and methods for making a variety of products. The methods involve mixing sucker ring teeth (SRT) protein and a plasticizer or a solvent to obtain a mixture of the SRT protein and the plasticizer. When the SRT is mixed with a plasticizer it is heated to between 32° C. and 195° C. to obtain an SRT protein melt. The melt is used to form a wide variety of products. When the SRT is mixed with a solvent, such as an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent, a solution of the SRT protein is formed, and is subsequently used to forming a product from the solution, wherein the product contains SRT protein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising squid ring teeth (SRT) protein and a plasticizer wherein the plasticizer comprises water, a sugar alcohol, a polysaccharide, 1,4-Butanediol, Dibutyl tartrate, Lactic acid, Octanoic acid, Palmitic acid, or diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monodiglycerides (DATEM), wherein the SRT protein is in the form of a melt and is at a temperature of between 32° C. and 195° C. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the SRT protein comprises a protein of squid ring teeth of  Loligo Pealei  or of  Loligo Vulgaris.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the SRT protein comprises an SRT protein that migrates with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa, or an SRT protein that migrates with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 39 kDa, or an SRT protein that migrates with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 30 kDa. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , comprising a combination of the SRT proteins. 
     
     
         5 . A method of making a product comprising mixing squid ring teeth (SRT) protein and an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent such that a solution of the SRT protein is formed, and subsequently forming a product from the solution, wherein the product comprises the SRT protein. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the SRT protein is mixed with the organic solvent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the forming the product comprises removing at least some of the solvent from the solution, and wherein the forming the product is reversible. 
     
     
         8 . A method for adhering a first surface to a second surface, the method comprising contacting the first surface with a composition comprising squid ring teeth (SRT) protein and an aqueous plasticizer, wherein the composition is between 32° C. and 195° C. on the first surface, contacting the composition on the first surface with the second surface, and cooling the composition to a temperature below 32° C. such that the composition adheres the first surface to the second surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second surfaces are submerged in an aqueous solution after the cooling. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  9  wherein the adhesion strength of the composition is approximately 1.5 MPa. 
     
     
         11 . An artificially shaped amorphous article comprising or consisting of squid ring teeth (SRT) protein.