The Drosophila corneal lens is entirely composed of chitin and other apical extracellular
matrix components, and it is not known how it acquires the biconvex shape that enables it to …

Highlights•Both model and nonmodel organisms shake up our view of bristle development.•
Endopolyploidy and apical extracellular matrix are important for cuticular …

Wings are essential for insect fitness. A number of proteins and enzymes have been
identified to be involved in wing terminal differentiation, which is characterized by the …

The cuticular exoskeleton of insects and other arthropods is a remarkably versatile material
with a complex multilayer structure. We made use of the ability to isolate cuticle synthesizing …

Animals in nature are frequently challenged by toxic compounds, from those that occur
naturally in plants as a defense against herbivory, to pesticides used to protect crops. On …

The polysaccharide chitin is a major scaffolding molecule in the insect cuticle. In order to be
functional, both chitin amounts and chitin organization have been shown to be important …

Actin filament polymerization can be branched or linear, which depends on the associated
regulatory proteins. Competition for actin monomers occurs between proteins that induce …

ABSTRACT F-BAR proteins are prime candidates to regulate membrane curvature and
dynamics during different developmental processes. Here, we analyzed nostrin, a so-far …

Autographa californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is a baculovirus that
causes systemic infections in many arthropod pests. The specific molecular processes …

The dynamic adhesion between cells and their extracellular matrix is essential for the
development and function of organs. During insect wing development, two epithelial sheets …