Morphological and mechanical properties of flexible resilin joints on damselfly wings (Rhinocypha spp.)

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 7;13(3):e0193147. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193147. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Resilin functions as an elastic spring that demonstrates extraordinary extensibility and elasticity. Here we use combined techniques, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to illuminate the structure and study the function of wing flexibility in damselflies, focusing on the genus Rhinocypha. Morphological studies using LSCM and SEM revealed that resilin patches and cuticular spikes were widespread along the longitudinal veins on both dorsal and ventral wing surfaces. Nanoindentation was performed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), where the wing samples were divided into three sections (membrane of the wing, mobile and immobile joints). The resulting topographic images revealed the presence of various sizes of nanostructures for all sample sections. The elasticity range values were: membrane (0.04 to 0.16 GPa), mobile joint (1.1 to 2.0 GPa) and immobile joint (1.8 to 6.0 GPa). The elastomeric and glycine-rich biopolymer, resilin was shown to be an important protein responsible for the elasticity and wing flexibility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Elasticity
  • Flight, Animal / physiology
  • Forelimb / blood supply
  • Forelimb / metabolism
  • Forelimb / physiology*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Odonata / metabolism
  • Odonata / physiology*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Veins / metabolism
  • Veins / physiology
  • Veins / ultrastructure
  • Wings, Animal / blood supply
  • Wings, Animal / metabolism
  • Wings, Animal / physiology*

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • resilin

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the International Program Associate (RIKEN, Japan), by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Technologies (ImPACT) Project and by the University of Malaya Grant Numbers: PG065-2015A.