The complex structure of insect exoskeleton has inspired material scientists and engineers. Chitin is a major component of the cuticle and it is synthesized by the enzyme chitin synthase. There is a single chitin synthase gene (kkv) in Drosophila facilitating research on the function of chitin. Previous editing of kkv lead to the recovery of a viable hypomorphic allele. Experiments described in this paper argue that a reduction in chitin synthase leads to the shafts of sensory bristles becoming fragile and frequently breaking off as the animals age. This is likely due to reduced chitin levels and further suggests that chitin plays a role in resilience of insect cuticle. The different layers in cuticle are continuous across the many epidermal cells that secrete the cuticle that covers the body. Little is known about the mechanisms responsible for this continuity. Using genetic mosaics and scanning electron microscopy this paper establishes that kkv shows short range cell non-autonomy. It also provides evidence for 2 possible mechanisms. One is the intercellular transfer of Kkv protein from one cell to its neighbors and the second is the deposition of cuticular material across the boundaries of neighboring cells.

中文翻译：

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果蝇中几丁质合酶的短距离非自主性和细胞间转移。

昆虫外骨骼的复杂结构激发了材料科学家和工程师的灵感。几丁质是角质层的主要成分，它是由几丁质合酶合成的。果蝇中只有一个几丁质合酶基因（kkv），有助于研究几丁质的功能。以前对kkv的编辑导致恢复了可行的亚态等位基因。本文所述的实验认为，几丁质合酶的减少会导致感觉刚毛轴变得脆弱，并随着动物年龄的增长而频繁脱落。这可能是由于几丁质水平降低所致，并进一步表明几丁质在昆虫表皮的回弹中起作用。表皮的不同层在分泌覆盖人体的表皮的许多表皮细胞上是连续的。对于造成这种连续性的机制知之甚少。使用遗传镶嵌和扫描电子显微镜，本文确定kkv显示短程细胞非自主性。它还提供了两种可能机制的证据。第一个是Kkv蛋白从一个细胞向其相邻细胞的细胞间转移，第二个是表皮物质在相邻细胞边界上的沉积。