The multi-layered protective cuticle of Collembola: a chemical analysis

Collembola, also known as springtails, are soil-dwelling arthropods that typically respire through the cuticle. To avoid suffocating in wet conditions, Collembola have evolved a complex, hierarchically nanostructured, cuticle surface that repels water with remarkable efficiency. In order to gain a m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Royal Society interface 2014-10, Vol.11 (99), p.20140619-20140619
Main Authors: Nickerl, Julia, Tsurkan, Mikhail, Hensel, René, Neinhuis, Christoph, Werner, Carsten
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acids - analysis
Animal Shells - chemistry
Animal Shells - ultrastructure
Animals
Arthropoda
Chitin
Chitin - analysis
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Chromatography, Thin Layer
Collembola
Cuticle
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Germany
Hexanes
Insect Proteins - chemistry
Insecta - anatomy & histology
Insecta - chemistry
Lipid
Lipids - analysis
Methylene Chloride
Microscopy, Electron
Protein
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Summary:Collembola, also known as springtails, are soil-dwelling arthropods that typically respire through the cuticle. To avoid suffocating in wet conditions, Collembola have evolved a complex, hierarchically nanostructured, cuticle surface that repels water with remarkable efficiency. In order to gain a more profound understanding of the cuticle characteristics, the chemical composition and architecture of the cuticle of Tetrodontophora bielanensis was studied. A stepwise removal of the different cuticle layers enabled controlled access to each layer that could be analysed separately by chemical spectrometry methods and electron microscopy. We found a cuticle composition that consisted of three characteristic layers, namely, a chitin-rich lamellar base structure overlaid by protein-rich nanostructures, and a lipid-rich envelope. The specific functions, composition and biological characteristics of each cuticle layer are discussed with respect to adaptations of Collembola to their soil habitat. It was found that the non-wetting characteristics base on a rather typical arthropod cuticle surface chemistry which confirms the decisive role of the cuticle topography.
ISSN:1742-5689
1742-5662
DOI:10.1098/rsif.2014.0619