Non-invasive characterization of the elastic protein resilin in insects using Raman spectroscopy

Woodrow, Charlie; Cullen, Darron A.; Montealegre-Z, Fernando; Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Jose

Abstract

Resilin is an extremely efficient elastic protein found in the moving parts of insects. Despite many years of resilin research, we are still only just starting to understand its diversity, native structures, and functions. Understanding differences in resilin structure and diversity could lead to the development of bioinspired elastic polymers, with broad applications in materials science. Here, to better understand resilin structure, we offer a novel methodology for identifying resilin-rich regions of the insect cuticle using non-invasive Raman spectroscopy in a model species, the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). The Raman spectrum of the resilin-rich semilunar process of the hind leg was compared with that of nearby low-resilin cuticle, and reference spectra and peaks assigned for these two regions. The main peaks of resilin include two bands associated with tyrosine at 955–962 and 1141–1203 cm−1 and a strong peak at 1615 cm−1, attributed to the α-Amide I group associated with dityrosine. We also found the chitin skeletal modes at ~485–567 cm−1 to be significant contributors to spectra variance between the groups. Raman spectra were also compared to results obtained by fluorescence spectroscopy, as a control technique. Principal component analysis of these resulting spectra revealed differences in the light-scattering properties of resilin-rich and resilin-poor cuticular regions, which may relate to differences in native protein structure and relative abundance.

Citation

Woodrow, C., Cullen, D. A., Montealegre-Z, F., & Gonzalez-Rodriguez, J. (2024). Non-invasive characterization of the elastic protein resilin in insects using Raman spectroscopy. International journal of biological macromolecules, 254(2), Article 127967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127967

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 6, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2023
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
• Print ISSN: 0141-8130
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 254
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 127967
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127967
• Keywords: Insect cuticle; Chitin; Polysaccharide; Elastomers; Elastic proteins
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4920246