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Review on the adhesive tendrils of Parthenocissus

  • Review
  • Chemical Biology
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

320 years ago, the adhesive tendrils of Parthenocissus were studied. Recently, the permanent attachment system of the tendrils is retrieved concerns. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations provide sufficient information on the characteristic attachment structure. Histochemical, cytochemical and immunocytochemical methods unravel the sorts and the molecular compositions of the secreted adhesive fluid. This review provides a general overview of the whole research history and the latest progress in this field. The authors elaborate the adhesive tendrils of Parthenocissus from macroscopic morphology, through microscopic structure, secreted adhesive fluid, adhesive force and adhesion mechanism to bionic exploration and application.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91023002, 51073059) and the National Basic Research Project of Program (2012CB932900, 2009CB930604).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Xiaojun Yang & Wenli Deng

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  1. Xiaojun Yang
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  2. Wenli Deng
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Correspondence to Wenli Deng.

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Yang, X., Deng, W. Review on the adhesive tendrils of Parthenocissus . Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 113–124 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-0037-0

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