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Resilin matrix distribution, variability and function in Drosophila.
Steven Lerch1,2,3, Renata Zuber1, Nicole Gehring2
1Applied Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
BMC Biology
|December 15, 2020
Summary
Researchers directly identified Resilin in Drosophila, revealing its distribution and function. This finding impacts biomaterial and biomedical applications by clarifying the protein
Area of Science:
- Insect biology
- Biomaterials science
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Resilin is an elastic protein crucial for insect joint and hinge function.
- Its mechanical properties are well-studied for biomaterial applications.
- Direct evidence of Resilin distribution and function in insects has been limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly identify Resilin distribution and function in Drosophila.
- To investigate the relationship between dityrosines and Resilin amounts.
- To understand the functional significance of Resilin in insect locomotion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a GFP-tagged Resilin version for direct identification in Drosophila.
- Employed RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 to generate flies with reduced/eliminated Resilin function.
- Analyzed dityrosine levels and Resilin localization.
Main Results:
- Directly identified Resilin in pliable regions of Drosophila, including previously undescribed areas.
- Found that dityrosine amounts did not correlate with Resilin amounts, suggesting variable matrix properties.
- Generated flightless but viable flies with impaired Resilin function, indicating partial compensation by other proteins like Cpr56F.
Conclusions:
- Resilin matrices are composites, with varying elastic proteins and dityrosinylation determining material properties.
- Understanding Resilin biology is crucial for advancing Resilin-based biomaterial and biomedical sciences.
