Comparative Mucomic Analysis of Three Functionally Distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions

Every animal secretes mucus, placing them among the most diverse biological materials. Mucus hydrogels are complex mixtures of water, ions, carbohydrates, and proteins. Uncertainty surrounding their composition and how interactions between components contribute to mucus function complicates efforts to exploit their properties. There is substantial interest in commercializing mucus from the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, for skincare, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and composite materials. C. aspersum secretes three mucus: one shielding the animal from environmental threats, one adhesive mucus from the pedal, and another pedal mucus that is lubricating. It remains a mystery how compositional differences account for their substantially different properties. Here, we characterize mucus proteins, glycosylation, ion content, and mechanical properties to understand structure-function relationships. Revealing differences between C. aspersum mucus shows how considering structure at all levels can inform the design of mucus-inspired materials.