Expression of the rubber‐like protein, resilin, in developing and functional insect cuticle determined using a Drosophila anti‐rec 1 resilin antibody

Abstract

Background: The natural elastomeric protein, insect resilin, is the most efficient elastic material known, used to store energy for jumping and flight in a variety of insects. Here, an antibody to recombinant Drosophila melanogaster pro-resilin is used to examine resilin expression in Drosophila and a wider range of insects. Results: Immunostaining of Drosophila embryos reveals anti-resilin reactivity in epidermal patches that exhibit a dynamic spatial and temporal expression through late embryogenesis. Resilin is also detected in stretch receptors in the embryo. In developing adult Drosophila, resilin pads are described at the base of wings and at the base of flexible sensory hairs in pupae. Resilin is also detected in embryos of the tephritid fruitfly, Bactrocera tryoni, and two well-known concentrations of insect resilin: the flight muscle tendon of the dragonfly and the pleural arch of the flea. Conclusions: The antiRec1 antibody antibody developed using Drosophila pro-resilin as antigen is cross-reactive and is useful for detection of resilin in diverse insects. For the first time, resilin expression has been detected during embryogenesis, revealing segmental patches of resilin in the developing epidermis of Drosophila. Developmental Dynamics 241:333-339,

Effects of force detecting sense organs on muscle synergies are correlated with their response properties

“…This is not visible in undissected legs as it is located internally. The intense toluidine blue staining and blue fluorescence are consistent with the presence of resilin in the joint membrane (Weis-Fogh, 1960; Wong et al, 2012). Due to its linkage to the insertion of the muscle apodeme, this region of the joint membrane should be stretched by contraction of the reductor muscle or posterior movement of the femur.…”

“…To study the structure of the TrF joint in histological section, the trochanter and femur were isolated and immersed in Karnovsky’s fixative, dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in Spur’s resin and sectioned using an MT2 microtome (method of Moran et al, 1971). Sections were stained with toluidine blue (an indicator of potential elasticity in cuticular structures; Weis-Fogh, 1960; Wong et al, 2012). For whole mount preparations, the trochanter and femur were bisected, cuticle containing the femoral campaniform was further isolated and treated with 1 M potassium hydroxide for at least 1 h. To image joint membranes, preparations were cleared in Conray (an aqueous clearing agent, iothalamate meglumine, Mallinckrodt), viewed under UV illumination in an Olympus microscope and photographed using a Spot Camera (Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.; Zill et al, 2011).…”

Functional diversity of resilin in Arthropoda

“…Therefore, it is strongly advisable to apply not only one single method but a combination of several different ones to increase the reliability of the identification and detection of resilin. In recent years, an antibody to a recombinant Drosophila melanogaster pro-resilin (rec1-resilin) was developed and has been shown to be cross-reactive and to label resilin in different insects [12–13 41–42]. Until today, this immunohistochemical method has been tested for only a small number of insects and only within the studies mentioned above.…”

New Developments in Medical Applications of Hybrid Hydrogels Containing Natural Polymers

“…It is named for its resilience to repeated rounds of stretching and relaxation [326]. Resilin has ability to store mechanical energy [327].…”