In insects, cuticle proteins interact with chitin and chitosan of the exoskeleton forming crystalline, amorphic or composite material structures. The biochemical and mechanical composition of the structure defines the cuticle's physical properties and thus how the insect cuticle behaves under mechanical stress. The tissue-specific ratio between chitin and chitosan and its pattern of deacetylation are recognized and interpreted by cuticle proteins depending on their local position in the body. Despite previous research, the assembly of the cuticle composites in time and space including its functional impact is widely unexplored. This review is devoted to the genetics underlying the temporal and spatial distribution of elastic proteins and the potential function of elastic proteins in insects with a focus on Resilin in the fruit fly . The potential impact and function of localized patches of elastic proteins is discussed for movements in leg joints, locomotion and damage resistance of the cuticle. We conclude that an interdisciplinary research approach serves as an integral example for the molecular mechanisms of generation and interpretation of the chitin/chitosan matrix, not only in but also in other arthropod species, and might help to synthesize artificial material composites.

中文翻译：

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昆虫几丁质/壳聚糖基质内弹性蛋白的时空分布和遗传背景，包括它们对运动的功能意义

在昆虫中，角质层蛋白与外骨骼的几丁质和壳聚糖相互作用，形成晶体、无定形或复合材料结构。该结构的生化和机械组成决定了角质层的物理特性，从而决定了昆虫角质层在机械应力下的行为方式。甲壳素和壳聚糖之间的组织特异性比例及其脱乙酰化模式由角质层蛋白根据其在体内的局部位置来识别和解释。尽管之前有研究，但角质层复合材料在时间和空间上的组装（包括其功能影响）尚未得到广泛探索。这篇综述致力于昆虫弹性蛋白时空分布的遗传学以及弹性蛋白的潜在功能，重点关注果蝇中的弹性蛋白。讨论了局部弹性蛋白斑块对腿部关节运动、角质层运动和损伤抵抗力的潜在影响和功能。我们的结论是，跨学科研究方法不仅在其他节肢动物物种中，而且在其他节肢动物物种中，可以作为甲壳素/壳聚糖基质的生成和解释的分子机制的一个不可或缺的例子，并且可能有助于合成人造材料复合材料。