Structure, synthèse et dégradation des chitinoprotéines de la cuticule des crustacés décapodes

Multiscale characterization of the hierarchical structure of Dynastes hercules elytra

Beetle elytra are thickened forewings, they are lightweight and tough to protect the hindwings without hindering flight capacities. Dynastes hercules elytra are known for their hygrochromic properties. However, the whole structure of the elytron remains to be characterized. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and to our knowledge for the first time X-Ray tomography were undertaken on adult male Dynastes hercules to characterize their multi-scale structure. Trabeculae present a periodic arrangement over a short distance. Two inferred models describe the heights of plies in endocuticles of dorsal and ventral cuticles. We hypothesize that this study could provide inspiration for biomimetic materials.

Alkaline proteases from a newly isolated Micromonospora chaiyaphumensis S103: Characterization and application as a detergent additive and for chitin extraction from shrimp shell waste

The present study was undertaken to characterize the extracellular thermostable serine alkaline proteases from newly actinomycete strain Micromonospora chaiyaphumensis S103 and to describe their evaluation in commercial detergents and shrimp waste deproteinization. This proteolytic crude extract was active and stable in alkaline solution. It was extremely stable in the pH range of 5.0-12.0. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 70°C, respectively, using casein as a substrate. The thermoactivity and thermostability of proteases were enhanced by the addition of 5mM Ca²⁺. Proteases from S103 were also used for shrimp wastes deproteinization in the process of chitin preparation. The percent of protein removal after 3h hydrolysis at 45°C with an enzyme/substrate ratio of 20U/mg had reached 93%. Furthermore, S103 crude enzyme was stable towards several organic solvents and retained 100% of its original activity after 90days of incubation in the presence of methanol, hexane, acetone, and DMSO. These properties make S103 proteases an ideal choice for application in detergent formulations, chitin production, and enzymatic peptide synthesis.

Membrane particle distribution in the sternal epithelia of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber latr. (Crustacea, oniscidea) during CaCO(3) deposit formation and resorption, a freeze-etch analysis

The anterior sternal epithelium of terrestrial isopods transports cuticular Ca(2+) to and from large sternal CaCO(3) deposits. We analyzed the anterior and posterior sternal epithelium by the means of the freeze-etch technique and measured the size distribution and density of intramembrane particles (IMPs) during three different molting stages. At least three IMP size classes around 4.5, 7.7, and 9.4 nm can be distinguished on the P-face of the apical and basolateral plasma membrane. An additional size class of around 12.8 nm is restricted to the apical compartment. In the anterior sternal epithelium, the density of these large particles changes by a factor of 1.9 during the molt cycle, suggesting a role in CaCO(3) formation and/or resorption. The density of the smaller IMPs rises transiently by a factor of 1.3 in the posterior sternal epithelium only. The IMP density of the basolateral plasma membrane increases significantly by a factor of 1.4 and 1.3 in the anterior and posterior sternal epithelia, respectively. The results indicate that increases in the IMP density contribute to the differentiation to an increased transport activity during the cyclic enlargements of the plasma membrane surface area in the anterior sternal epithelium.