Resilin

Resilin

Resilin is an elastomeric protein found in many arthropods. As of 2005 it is the most efficient elastic protein known (Elvin et al, 2005). The elastic efficiency of the resilin isolated from locust tendon has been reported to be 97 % (only 3 % of stored energy is lost as heat). It has no regular structure but its randomly coiled chains are crosslinked by di- and tri-tyrosine links at the right spacing to confer the elasticity needed to propel some jumping insects distances up to 150 times their length (as found in fleas). Resilin must last for the lifetime of adult insects and must therefore operate for hundreds of millions of extension and contraction; its elastic efficiency ensures performance over the insect's lifetime. Resilin exhibits unusual elastomeric behaviour only when swollen in polar solvents such as water. A multi-disciplinary research team funded by the Australian research body CSIRO published research in "Nature" on 13 October 2005 on the artificial creation of the protein.

A recombinant form of the vinegar fly resilin protein, pro-resilin, was synthesized in 2005 by expressing a part of the fly gene in the bacterium "Escherichia coli". It is expected to have many applications in the athletic footwear, medical, microelectronics and other industries.

References and external links

* [http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?id=190resilin&type=mediaRelease Harnessing flea power to create near-perfect rubber] , Media Release from the CSIRO
* Elvin CM, Carr AG, Huson MG, Maxwell JM, Pearson RD, Vuocolo T, Liyou NE, Wong DC, Merritt DJ, Dixon NE. "Synthesis and properties of crosslinked recombinant pro-resilin" Nature. 2005 Oct 13;437(7061):999-1002 Entrez Pubmed|16222249
* [http://npg.nature.com/news/2005/051010/full/051010-9.html Shorter news item from Nature]
* [http://www.unisa.edu.au/iwri/futurestudents/phdprojects/novelbiomimetic.asp Summary from University of South Australia]
* [http://www.future.org.au/news_2005/august/insect.html Insect Rubber] article from Future Materials

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Resilin — Masse/Länge Primärstruktur 620 Aminosäuren …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Resilin —   [zu lateinisch resilire »sich zusammenziehen«] das, s, gummiartig elastisches Protein bei Insekten, z. B. an Flügelgelenken oder Speichelpumpen, funktionell vergleichbar dem Elastin der Wirbeltiere …   Universal-Lexikon

  • resilin — n. [L. resilire, to leap back] (ARTHROPODA: Insecta) A colorless, rubber like protein found in elastic and extensible cuticle of insects that stores energy for tension release to restore original position …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • resilin — Amorphous rubber like protein found in insect cuticle: similar to elastin, though there is no fibre formation …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • resilin — res·i·lin (rĕzʹə lĭn) n. An elastic substance consisting of cross linked protein chains, found in the cuticles of many insects.   [resile + in.] * * * …   Universalium

  • resilin — noun An elastic protein found in the exoskeletons of insects, facilitating, for example, folding wings or jumping relatively great distances …   Wiktionary

  • resilin — /ˈrɛzələn/ (say rezuhluhn) noun an elastic material, found naturally in insects with flying and leaping abilities and produced synthetically to provide a rubber with an extremely long fatigue life and high resilience …  

  • resilin — …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation — Agency overview Formed 1926 Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia Headquarters C …   Wikipedia

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