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Nicola Pugno - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Stag Beetle Elytra: Localized Shape Retention and Puncture/Wear Resistance
Insects, 2019Co-Authors: Lakshminath Kundanati, Roberto Guarino, Nicola PugnoAbstract:Beetles are by far one of the most successful groups of insects, with large diversity in terms of number of species. A part of this success is attributed to their Elytra, which provide various functions such as protection to their bodies from mechanical forces. In this study, stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) Elytra were first examined for their overall flexural properties and were observed to have a localized shape-retaining snap-through mechanism, which may play a possible role in partly absorbing impact energy, e.g., during battles and falls from heights. The snap-through mechanism was validated using theoretical calculations and also finite element simulations. Elytra were also characterized to examine their puncture and wear resistance. Our results show that Elytra have a puncture resistance that is much higher than that of mandible bites. The measured values of modulus and hardness of Elytra exocuticle were 10.3 ± 0.8 GPa and 0.7 ± 0.1 GPa, respectively. Using the hardness-to-modulus ratio as an indicator of wear resistance, the estimated value was observed to be in the range of wear-resistant biological material such as blood worms (Glyrcera dibranchiata). Thus, our study demonstrates different mechanical properties of the stag beetle Elytra, which can be explored to design shape-retaining bio-inspired composites with enhanced puncture and wear resistance.
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stag beetle Elytra localized shape retention and puncture wear resistance
Insects, 2019Co-Authors: Lakshminath Kundanati, Roberto Guarino, Nicola PugnoAbstract:Beetles are by far one of the most successful groups of insects, with large diversity in terms of number of species. A part of this success is attributed to their Elytra, which provide various functions such as protection to their bodies from mechanical forces. In this study, stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) Elytra were first examined for their overall flexural properties and were observed to have a localized shape-retaining snap-through mechanism, which may play a possible role in partly absorbing impact energy, e.g., during battles and falls from heights. The snap-through mechanism was validated using theoretical calculations and also finite element simulations. Elytra were also characterized to examine their puncture and wear resistance. Our results show that Elytra have a puncture resistance that is much higher than that of mandible bites. The measured values of modulus and hardness of Elytra exocuticle were 10.3 ± 0.8 GPa and 0.7 ± 0.1 GPa, respectively. Using the hardness-to-modulus ratio as an indicator of wear resistance, the estimated value was observed to be in the range of wear-resistant biological material such as blood worms (Glyrcera dibranchiata). Thus, our study demonstrates different mechanical properties of the stag beetle Elytra, which can be explored to design shape-retaining bio-inspired composites with enhanced puncture and wear resistance.
Michael R. Kanost - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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two major cuticular proteins are required for assembly of horizontal laminae and vertical pore canals in rigid cuticle of tribolium castaneum
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Mi Young Noh, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Michael R. Kanost, Yasuyuki ArakaneAbstract:The insect exoskeleton is composed of cuticle primarily formed from structural cuticular proteins (CPs) and the polysaccharide chitin. Two CPs, TcCPR27 and TcCPR18, are major proteins present in the elytron (highly sclerotized and pigmented modified forewing) as well as the pronotum (dorsal sclerite of the prothorax) and ventral abdominal cuticle of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Both CPs belong to the CPR family, which includes proteins that have an amino acid sequence motif known as the Rebers & Riddiford (R&R) consensus sequence. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for TcCPR27 and TcCPR18 resulted in insects with shorter, wrinkled, warped and less rigid Elytra than those from control insects. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the roles of CPs in cuticle assembly, we analyzed for the precise localization of TcCPR27 and the ultrastructural architecture of cuticle in TcCPR27- and TcCPR18-deficient Elytra. Transmission electron microscopic analysis combined with immunodetection using gold-labeled secondary antibody revealed that TcCPR27 is present in dorsal Elytral procuticle both in the horizontal laminae and in vertical pore canals. dsRNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) of TcCPR27 resulted in abnormal electron-lucent laminae and pore canals in Elytra except for the boundary between these two structures in which electron-dense molecule(s) apparently accumulated. Insects subjected to RNAi for TcCPR18 also had disorganized laminae and pore canals in the procuticle of Elytra. Similar ultrastructural defects were also observed in other body wall regions with rigid cuticle such as the thorax and legs of adult T. castaneum. TcCPR27 and TcCPR18 are required for proper formation of the horizontal chitinous laminae and vertical pore canals that are critical for formation and stabilization of rigid adult cuticle.
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proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of rigid and membranous cuticles and epidermis from the Elytra and hindwings of the red flour beetle tribolium castaneum
Journal of Proteome Research, 2012Co-Authors: Neal T Dittmer, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Yasuaki Hiromasa, John M. Tomich, Michael R. KanostAbstract:The insect cuticle is a composite biomaterial made up primarily of chitin and proteins. The physical properties of the cuticle can vary greatly from hard and rigid to soft and flexible. Understanding how different cuticle types are assembled can aid in the development of novel biomimetic materials for use in medicine and technology. Toward this goal, we have taken a combined proteomics and transcriptomics approach with the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, to examine the protein and gene expression profiles of the Elytra and hindwings, appendages that contain rigid and soft cuticles, respectively. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed distinct differences in the protein profiles between Elytra and hindwings, with four highly abundant proteins dominating the Elytral cuticle extract. MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry identified 19 proteins homologous to known or hypothesized cuticular proteins (CPs), including a novel low complexity protein enriched in charged residues. Microarray analysis id...
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identification mrna expression and functional analysis of several yellow family genes in tribolium castaneum
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2010Co-Authors: Yasuyuki Arakane, Neal T Dittmer, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Yoshinori Tomoyasu, Michael R. KanostAbstract:Querying the genome of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, with the Drosophila melanogaster Yellow-y (DmY-y) protein sequence identified 14 Yellow homologs. One of these is an ortholog of DmY-y, which is required for cuticle pigmentation (melanization), and another is an ortholog of DmY-f/f2, which functions as a dopachrome conversion enzyme (DCE). Phylogenetic analysis identified putative T. castaneum orthologs for eight of the D. melanogaster yellow genes, including DmY-b, -c, -e, -f, -g, -g2, -h and -y. However, one clade of five beetle genes, TcY-1-5, has no orthologs in D. melanogaster. Expression profiles of all T. castaneum yellow genes were determined by RT-PCR of pharate pupal to young adult stages. TcY-b and TcY-c were expressed throughout all developmental stages analyzed, whereas each of the remaining yellow genes had a unique expression pattern, suggestive of distinct physiological functions. TcY-b, -c and -e were all identified by mass spectrometry of Elytral proteins from young adults. Eight of the 14 genes showed differential expression between Elytra and hindwings during the last three days of the pupal stage when the adult cuticle is synthesized. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated transcript knockdown revealed that TcY-y is required for melanin production in the hindwings, particularly in the region of the pterostigma, while TcY-f appears to be required for adult cuticle sclerotization but not pigmentation.
Karl J Kramer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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two major cuticular proteins are required for assembly of horizontal laminae and vertical pore canals in rigid cuticle of tribolium castaneum
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2014Co-Authors: Mi Young Noh, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Michael R. Kanost, Yasuyuki ArakaneAbstract:The insect exoskeleton is composed of cuticle primarily formed from structural cuticular proteins (CPs) and the polysaccharide chitin. Two CPs, TcCPR27 and TcCPR18, are major proteins present in the elytron (highly sclerotized and pigmented modified forewing) as well as the pronotum (dorsal sclerite of the prothorax) and ventral abdominal cuticle of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Both CPs belong to the CPR family, which includes proteins that have an amino acid sequence motif known as the Rebers & Riddiford (R&R) consensus sequence. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for TcCPR27 and TcCPR18 resulted in insects with shorter, wrinkled, warped and less rigid Elytra than those from control insects. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the roles of CPs in cuticle assembly, we analyzed for the precise localization of TcCPR27 and the ultrastructural architecture of cuticle in TcCPR27- and TcCPR18-deficient Elytra. Transmission electron microscopic analysis combined with immunodetection using gold-labeled secondary antibody revealed that TcCPR27 is present in dorsal Elytral procuticle both in the horizontal laminae and in vertical pore canals. dsRNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) of TcCPR27 resulted in abnormal electron-lucent laminae and pore canals in Elytra except for the boundary between these two structures in which electron-dense molecule(s) apparently accumulated. Insects subjected to RNAi for TcCPR18 also had disorganized laminae and pore canals in the procuticle of Elytra. Similar ultrastructural defects were also observed in other body wall regions with rigid cuticle such as the thorax and legs of adult T. castaneum. TcCPR27 and TcCPR18 are required for proper formation of the horizontal chitinous laminae and vertical pore canals that are critical for formation and stabilization of rigid adult cuticle.
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proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of rigid and membranous cuticles and epidermis from the Elytra and hindwings of the red flour beetle tribolium castaneum
Journal of Proteome Research, 2012Co-Authors: Neal T Dittmer, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Yasuaki Hiromasa, John M. Tomich, Michael R. KanostAbstract:The insect cuticle is a composite biomaterial made up primarily of chitin and proteins. The physical properties of the cuticle can vary greatly from hard and rigid to soft and flexible. Understanding how different cuticle types are assembled can aid in the development of novel biomimetic materials for use in medicine and technology. Toward this goal, we have taken a combined proteomics and transcriptomics approach with the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, to examine the protein and gene expression profiles of the Elytra and hindwings, appendages that contain rigid and soft cuticles, respectively. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed distinct differences in the protein profiles between Elytra and hindwings, with four highly abundant proteins dominating the Elytral cuticle extract. MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry identified 19 proteins homologous to known or hypothesized cuticular proteins (CPs), including a novel low complexity protein enriched in charged residues. Microarray analysis id...
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identification mrna expression and functional analysis of several yellow family genes in tribolium castaneum
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2010Co-Authors: Yasuyuki Arakane, Neal T Dittmer, Karl J Kramer, Richard W. Beeman, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Yoshinori Tomoyasu, Michael R. KanostAbstract:Querying the genome of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, with the Drosophila melanogaster Yellow-y (DmY-y) protein sequence identified 14 Yellow homologs. One of these is an ortholog of DmY-y, which is required for cuticle pigmentation (melanization), and another is an ortholog of DmY-f/f2, which functions as a dopachrome conversion enzyme (DCE). Phylogenetic analysis identified putative T. castaneum orthologs for eight of the D. melanogaster yellow genes, including DmY-b, -c, -e, -f, -g, -g2, -h and -y. However, one clade of five beetle genes, TcY-1-5, has no orthologs in D. melanogaster. Expression profiles of all T. castaneum yellow genes were determined by RT-PCR of pharate pupal to young adult stages. TcY-b and TcY-c were expressed throughout all developmental stages analyzed, whereas each of the remaining yellow genes had a unique expression pattern, suggestive of distinct physiological functions. TcY-b, -c and -e were all identified by mass spectrometry of Elytral proteins from young adults. Eight of the 14 genes showed differential expression between Elytra and hindwings during the last three days of the pupal stage when the adult cuticle is synthesized. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated transcript knockdown revealed that TcY-y is required for melanin production in the hindwings, particularly in the region of the pterostigma, while TcY-f appears to be required for adult cuticle sclerotization but not pigmentation.
Lanteri, Analía Alicia - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A new enigmatic species of broad-nosed weevil endemic to Brazil and its phylogenetic placement within the tribe Naupactini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)
2020Co-Authors: Río, María Guadalupe Del, Lanteri, Analía AliciaAbstract:A new species of Naupactini (Curculionidae: Entiminae) endemic to Brazil, Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, is herein described. It resembles the monotypic genus Hadropus Schoenherr in its general appearance, particularly in the shape of the Elytra, and the color of the vestiture, but the results of a cladistics analysis herein conducted suggest that it belongs to the genus Stenocyphus Marshall. This genus ranges in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, mainly in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, and includes three other species. Stenocyphus costae sp. nov., distinguishes from the remaining species of Stenocyphus by the green iridescent scaly vestiture, having long stiff setae on the two pairs of Elytral tubercles; the more slender rostrum; the shorter antennae; the convex disc of the pronotum; and the shorter and broader Elytra. This paper includes a cladogram of the Naupactini genera showing the phylogenetic position of the new species, its complete description, photographs of male and female habitus, line drawings of genitalia of both sexes, and a key of the Stenocyphus species.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse
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A new enigmatic species of broad-nosed weevil endemic to Brazil and its phylogenetic placement within the tribe Naupactini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)
Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Museu de Zoologia (MZUSP)., 2020Co-Authors: Del Rio, Maria Guadalupe, Lanteri, Analía AliciaAbstract:A new species of Naupactini (Curculionidae: Entiminae) endemic to Brazil, Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, is herein described. It resembles the monotypic genus Hadropus Schoenherr in its general appearance, particularly in the shape of the Elytra, and the color of the vestiture, but the results of a cladistics analysis herein conducted suggest that it belongs to the genus Stenocyphus Marshall. This genus ranges in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, mainly in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, and includes three other species. Stenocyphus costae sp. nov., distinguishes from the remaining species of Stenocyphus by the green iridescent scaly vestiture, having long stiff setae on the two pairs of Elytral tubercles; the more slender rostrum; the shorter antennae; the convex disc of the pronotum; and the shorter and broader Elytra. This paper includes a cladogram of the Naupactini genera showing the phylogenetic position of the new species, its complete description, photographs of male and female habitus, line drawings of genitalia of both sexes, and a key of the Stenocyphus species
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Taxonomic revision of the genus Stenocyphus Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Brazil
2013Co-Authors: Río, María Guadalupe Del, Lanteri, Analía AliciaAbstract:Stenocyphus Marshall, 1922 (Entiminae, Naupactini) includes three species: the type species S. bituberosus (Gyllenhal, 1833), S. tuberculatus (Hustache, 1938), comb. n. herein transferred from Neoericydeus Hustache, 1938, and S. sextuberosus sp. n. The genus is endemic to the Atlantic forests of the states of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil and is mainly characterized by the presence of humped Elytra bearing large conical tubercles on the intervals 5, or 3 and 5, or 3, 5 and 7. It shares some external morphological characters with Hadropus Schoenherr, 1826 and the Brazilian species of Cyrtomon Schoenherr 1823, but its phylogenetic position is uncertain. Herein we provide a diagnostic key to separate Stenocyphus from those genera, generic and species redescriptions or descriptions, a key to species, habitus photographs, line drawings of genitalia, and a discussion of the patterns of Elytral tubercles in unrelated genera of Neotropical broad-nosed weevils.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse
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Taxonomic revision of the genus Stenocyphus Marshall (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Brazil
'Pensoft Publishers', 2013Co-Authors: Del Rio, Maria Guadalupe, Lanteri, Analía AliciaAbstract:Stenocyphus Marshall, 1922 (Entiminae, Naupactini) includes three species: the type species S. bituberosus (Gyllenhal, 1833), S. tuberculatus (Hustache, 1938), comb. n. herein transferred from Neoericydeus Hustache, 1938, and S. sextuberosus sp. n. The genus is endemic to the Atlantic forests of the states of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil and is mainly characterized by the presence of humped Elytra bearing large conical tubercles on the intervals 5, or 3 and 5, or 3, 5 and 7. It shares some external morphological characters with Hadropus Schoenherr, 1826 and the Brazilian species of Cyrtomon Schoenherr 1823, but its phylogenetic position is uncertain. Herein we provide a diagnostic key to separate Stenocyphus from those genera, generic and species redescriptions or descriptions, a key to species, habitus photographs, line drawings of genitalia, and a discussion of the patterns of Elytral tubercles in unrelated genera of Neotropical broad-nosed weevils.Fil: del Rio, Maria Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lanteri, Analía Alicia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Michael I. Sitvarin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional value of Elytra under various stresses in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.
Scientific reports, 2016Co-Authors: David M. Linz, Michael I. SitvarinAbstract:Coleoptera (beetles) is a massively successful order of insects, distinguished by their evolutionarily modified forewings called Elytra. These structures are often presumed to have been a major driving force for the successful radiation of this taxon, by providing beetles with protection against a variety of harsh environmental factors. However, few studies have directly demonstrated the functional significance of the Elytra against diverse environmental challenges. Here, we sought to empirically test the function of the Elytra using Tribolium castaneum (the red flour beetle) as a model. We tested four categories of stress on the beetles: physical damage to hindwings, predation, desiccation, and cold shock. We found that, in all categories, the presence of Elytra conferred a significant advantage compared to those beetles with their Elytra experimentally removed. This work provides compelling quantitative evidence supporting the importance of beetle forewings in tolerating a variety of environmental stresses, and gives insight into how the evolution of Elytra have facilitated the remarkable success of beetle radiation.
