Analysis of chitin fiber assembling mechanism in beetle elytra toward development and application of structural materials

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22248
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 37:Biomolecular chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: ARAKAKI ATSUSHI 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10367154)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: タンパク質 / キチン / 甲虫 / 構造材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The upper wings of beetles, referred to as elytra, have a defensive function to protect soft tissues from foreign enemies and also serve as a balancer during flight. As a material having both lightweight and robustness, it is attracting much attention in industrial fields such as aircraft and robotics. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of drastic structural changes involved in improving the mechanical properties of beetle elytra. We classified cuticle proteins identified from the beetle elytra by their amino acid sequences and analyzed the gene expression during the elytra formation process. We also analyzed the chitin-binding ability of the cuticle proteins and prepared materials using the proteins.

Free Research Field

生物工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、甲虫上翅の形成過程における構造の変化と、その変化に伴い発現するタンパク質を明らかにした。その結果、従来知られていなかった新しい表皮タンパク質のグループの存在を見出した。本研究の成果は、キチンとタンパク質のバイオポリマーを利用した軽量・高強度材料の開発につながることが期待される。