Jellyfish Population Explosion Leads To New Use For Waste
Creatures
Science Daily — Amid growing concern about how to dispose of a booming
population of jellyfish — including 6-foot-long monsters weighing more than 400
pounds — scientists in Japan are reporting development of a process for extracting
a commercially-valuable biomaterial from the marine animals. Their report is
scheduled for the July 27 issue of ACS’ Journal of Natural Products, a monthly
publication.
Kiminori Ushida and colleagues note that jellyfish populations have surged worldwide, a
phenomenon variously attributed to global warming and artificial reefs built along coastlines.The
animals are becoming nuisances, clogging water intakes at nuclear and conventional power
plants, for instance, and researchers are seeking ways to cover the cost of removing huge
masses of jellyfish from the environment.
In the new study, they describe a process for extracting high yields of a protein substance called
mucin that could be used as a starting material for production of designer mucins with multiple
uses. Found in mucous secretions from various parts of the body, mucins lubricate body surfaces
and sometimes have antibacterial effects.
The report explains that the jellyfish mucin is similar to a human mucin and could substitute for
mucin now obtained from pigs and cows for use in drug delivery, cosmetic products, food
additives, and other products.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Chemical Society.