Damage,repair and regeneration in insect cuticle: The story so far,and possibilities for the future |
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Institution: | 1. Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College the University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;2. Department for Biomimetics, City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Neustadtswall 30, 28199 Bremen, Germany;1. Animal Genetics, University of Tübingen, Germany;2. Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Germany;3. Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany;4. iBV, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, France;1. University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;2. National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;1. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;2. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, 21941-909 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;3. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;4. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Escola de Educação Física e Desportos, 21941-599 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil |
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Abstract: | The exoskeleton of an insect can contain countless specializations across an individual, across developmental stages, and across the class Insecta. Hence, the exoskeleton's building material cuticle must perform a vast variety of functions. Cuticle displays a wide range of material properties which are determined by several known factors: the amount and orientation of the chitin fibres, the constituents and degree of cross-linking and hydration of the protein matrix, the relative amounts of exo- and endocuticle, and the shape of the structures themselves. In comparison to other natural materials such as wood and mammal bone, relatively few investigations into the mechanical properties of insect cuticle have been carried out. Of these, very few have focussed on the need for repair and its effectiveness at restoring mechanical stability to the cuticle. Insect body parts are often subject to prolonged repeated cyclic loads when running and flying, as well as more extreme “emergency” behaviours necessary for survival such as jumping, wedging (squeezing through small holes) and righting (when overturned). What effects have these actions on the cuticle itself? How close to the limits of failure does an insect push its body parts? Can an insect recover from minor or major damage to its exoskeleton “bones”? No current research has answered these questions conclusively. |
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Keywords: | Cuticle Fatigue Damage Repair Strength Stiffness |
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