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Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior

Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and...

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Autores principales: Croce, Anna C., Scolari, Francesca
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9318335/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35889334
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144458
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author Croce, Anna C.
Scolari, Francesca
author_facet Croce, Anna C.
Scolari, Francesca
author_sort Croce, Anna C.
collection PubMed
description Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and energy accumulation devices. In Diptera, besides optically-based phenomena, biomolecules able to fluoresce can act as markers of bio-metabolic, structural and behavioral features. Resilin or chitinous compounds, with their respective blue or green-to-red autofluorescence (AF), are commonly related to biomechanical and structural properties, helpful to clarify the mechanisms underlying substrate adhesion of ectoparasites’ leg appendages, or the antennal abilities in tuning sound detection. Metarhodopsin, a red fluorescing photoproduct of rhodopsin, allows to investigate visual mechanisms, whereas NAD(P)H and flavins, commonly relatable to energy metabolism, favor the investigation of sperm vitality. Lipofuscins are AF biomarkers of aging, as well as pteridines, which, similarly to kynurenines, are also exploited in metabolic investigations. Beside the knowledge available in Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model to study also human disorder and disease mechanisms, here we review optically-based studies in other dipteran species, including mosquitoes and fruit flies, discussing future perspectives for targeted studies with various practical applications, including pest and vector control.
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spelling pubmed-93183352022-07-27 Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior Croce, Anna C. Scolari, Francesca Molecules Review Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and energy accumulation devices. In Diptera, besides optically-based phenomena, biomolecules able to fluoresce can act as markers of bio-metabolic, structural and behavioral features. Resilin or chitinous compounds, with their respective blue or green-to-red autofluorescence (AF), are commonly related to biomechanical and structural properties, helpful to clarify the mechanisms underlying substrate adhesion of ectoparasites’ leg appendages, or the antennal abilities in tuning sound detection. Metarhodopsin, a red fluorescing photoproduct of rhodopsin, allows to investigate visual mechanisms, whereas NAD(P)H and flavins, commonly relatable to energy metabolism, favor the investigation of sperm vitality. Lipofuscins are AF biomarkers of aging, as well as pteridines, which, similarly to kynurenines, are also exploited in metabolic investigations. Beside the knowledge available in Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model to study also human disorder and disease mechanisms, here we review optically-based studies in other dipteran species, including mosquitoes and fruit flies, discussing future perspectives for targeted studies with various practical applications, including pest and vector control. MDPI 2022-07-12 /pmc/articles/PMC9318335/ /pubmed/35889334 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144458 Text en © 2022 by the authors. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Review
Croce, Anna C.
Scolari, Francesca
Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title_full Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title_fullStr Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title_full_unstemmed Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title_short Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior
title_sort autofluorescent biomolecules in diptera: from structure to metabolism and behavior
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9318335/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35889334
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144458
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