Resilin is needed for wing posture in Drosophila suzukii

Area of Science:

• Insect biology
• Biochemistry
• Evolutionary biology

Background:

• Resilin, a protein matrix in insect cuticle, provides fatigue resistance.
• Pro-resilin polymerizes via di- and tri-tyrosine (DT) bonds, crucial for resilin function.
• Loss of pro-resilin in Drosophila melanogaster causes a nonlethal held-down wing (hdw) phenotype.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the conservation of pro-resilin function and resilin properties in Drosophila suzukii.
• To compare DT intensities and the effects of pro-resilin mutation between D. suzukii and D. melanogaster.
• To explore evolutionary adaptations in resilin matrices.

Main Methods:

• Microscopic quantification of di- and tri-tyrosine (DT) autofluorescence.
• CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to create pro-resilin mutants in D. suzukii.
• Phenotypic analysis of mutant flies, including flight ability and wing posture.

Main Results:

• DT intensities in trochanter and wing hinge were higher in D. suzukii than D. melanogaster; proboscis DT was higher in D. melanogaster.
• D. suzukii pro-resilin mutants exhibited flightlessness and the hdw phenotype.
• DT signal at the wing hinge was reduced but not eliminated in D. suzukii hdw mutants, indicating potential residual pro-resilin or other DT-forming proteins.

Conclusions:

• Pro-resilin function is generally conserved within the Drosophila genus.
• Species-specific differences in DT quantity suggest evolutionary modulation of resilin matrices.
• Resilin matrices may be adapted to accommodate species-specific lifestyles.