Provides adhesiveness to the mussel's foot. Mussels produce one of the strongest water insoluble glues. The mussel's adhesive is a bundle of threads, called a byssus, formed by a fibrous collagenous core coated with adhesive proteins. Produced by the byssal gland. Expression starts at the pediveliger, foot formation, stage. Contains L-DOPA (3',4'-dihydroxyphenylalanine). Sticky business - Issue 2 of September 2001