Main description:

Mention the words 'arthropod cuticle' to most biologists and they usually provoke a glazed expression. This is because the cuticle is commonly regarded as an inert substance. It is hoped that this book will dispel this fallacy. The study of cuticle in its proper context now involves many of the wider aspects of biology which are currently in vogue (e. g. how a hormone like ecdyson induces a specific enzyme like dopa decarboxylase; the unsolved major problem of cell gradient and polarity; the involvement of cyclic AMP in hormonal mechanisms; the extra cellular control of cuticular enzymes, of the mechanical proper ties of cuticle structural proteins, and of the orientation of fibrous molecules; and the relation of chromosome puffing to the synthesis of specific proteins). Studies on cuticle demand a variety of techniques, and examples of the following are illustrated in this book (fluorescence, phase contrast, polariza tion and Nomarski interference microscopy; infrared absorp tion; transmission and scanning electron microscopy; autora diography analyzed by electron microscopy; negative staining in the electron microscope; optical diffraction, high angle X-ray diffraction, low angle X -ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction). I am well aware that the biophysical parts of this book are less incomplete than other aspects. A developmental biologist or a biochemist would have further elaborated other parts ofthe subject matter. Only one previous author, RICHARDS (1951)hasdevoted a book to arthropod cuticle.

Contents:

1 Introduction.- A. Treatment of Subject.- B. General Functions and Significance of Cuticle.- C. Previous Reviews.- 2 General Structure of Integument.- A. Basic Plan of Cuticle.- B. Epicuticle.- I. Cement Layer.- II. Wax Layer.- III. Outer Epicuticle.- IV. Inner Epicuticle.- C. Procuticle.- I. Lateral Divisions.- II. Horizontal Divisions.- III. Vertical Structures.- D. Cellular Aspects.- E. Cuticle and Respiration.- F. Related Structures.- 3 The Structural Macromolecules.- A. Chitin.- I. Composition.- II. Biosynthesis and Enzymic Degradation of Chitin.- III. Chitin Conformation-Earlier Studies.- IV. Chitin Polymorphism.- V. The ?-Chitin Unit Cell.- VI. Chitin Density.- VII. Critique of Preparation Methods for Infrared and X-ray Diffraction Studies.- VIII. Chitin Orientation in Eutropidacris Tendon.- IX. Infrared Spectroscopy of Entropidacris Tendon.- X. X-ray Crystallography of Eutropidacris Tendon.- XI Refinement of Chitin Molecular Model.- XII. Indexing Chitin X-ray Diffraction Diagrams.- B. Lipids.- I. Long-chain Alcohols.- II. Fatty Acids.- III. Esters.- IV. Aliphatic Aldehydes.- V. Diols.- VI. Ceroplastol and Ceroplasteric Acid.- VII. Phospholipids.- VIII. Branched Hydrocarbons.- IX. Sterols.- X. Cuticulin.- XI Shellac.- XII. Biosynthesis.- XIII. Functions of Cuticular Lipids.- C. Proteins.- I. Cuticle Structural Proteins.- II. Oothecal Proteins.- III. Enzymes Involved in Cuticle Functions.- IV. Egg Shell Proteins.- V. Silk Proteins.- VI. Are Cuticle Proteins Synthesized in Locations Other than Epidermis?.- D. Pterines.- E. Melanin.- F. Chemical Interactions in Cuticle.- 4 Molecular Cross-Linking.- A. Introduction.- B. Oothecal Protein Cross-Linking.- C. Tanning of Exocuticle.- I. The Para-Quinone Hypothesis.- II. Tanning with N-Aeetyldopamine.- III. Metabolic Aspects.- IV. Biphenyls and Peroxidase.- V. Protein Groups Available for Tanning.- VI. Location of Phenoloxidase.- VII. Phenolic Reservoirs.- VIII. Function of ?-Alanine in Cuticle.- IX. Sulfur Cross-Links.- D. Cross-Links in Endocuticle.- E. Autotanning.- F. Epicuticle Tanning.- G. Chitin-Protein Cross-Links.- H. Cross-Linking of Resilin.- I. Thermodynamic Analysis of Rubberlike Elasticity.- II. Chemical Studies on Resilin Cross-Links.- III. Biosynthesis of Resilin.- IV. Studies on Number of Cross-Links and Chain Flexibility.- V. Influence of Resilin Primary Structure on Secondary and Tertiary Structure.- VI. Some Factors Affecting Resilin Tertiary Structure.- I. Silk Tanning.- J. Stabilization of Egg Shells.- 5 Supermolecular Architecture.- A. The Microfibril in Cuticle.- I. Microfibril Composition.- II. Microfibril Diameter.- III. The Chitin Crystallite Lattice.- IV. The Microfibril/Matrix System.- V. Origin of Microfibrils.- VI. Microfibril Beading.- VII. Macrofibrils.- B. Helicoidal Architecture.- I. Two-system Model of Cuticle Architecture.- II. Effect of Microfibril Orientation on Pore Canals.- III. Helicoids in Other Living Systems.- IV. Analogy with Cholesteric Liquid Crystals.- V. Form Optical Activity in Cuticle.- C. Symmetry and Asymmetry of Microfibrillar Architecture.- D. Polymer Single Crystals.- E. Self-Assembly.- F. Is Cuticle Self-Assembled?.- G. Sense of Rotation of Helicoid.- H. Helicoidal Optics.- I. Crystallographic Faults in Cuticle.- J. Primary Versus Secondary Microfibril Orientation.- 6 Physiological Aspects.- A. Daily Growth Layers in Cuticle.- I. Rubberlike Cuticle.- II. Crustacean Gastroliths.- III. Insect Apodemes.- IV. Insect Solid Endocuticle.- V. Age Determination.- VI. Involvement of a Circadian Clock.- VII. Uncoupling Chitin Orientation from the Clock.- VIII. Exceptions.- IX. Epidermal Light Sense.- X. Metamorphosis and Cuticle Ultrastructure.- B. Hormones and Cuticle.- I. Juvenile Hormone and Analogues.- II. Ecdysone.- III. Bursicon.- IV. Hormones Involved in the Control of Tanning Metabolism.- V. Some Controversial Points.- VI. Chromosome Puffing and Cuticle Secretion.- VII. Event Timing.- VIII. Hormones and Wax Secretion.- IX. Hormones and Oothecal Glands.- C. Wound Repair.- D. Contractile Filaments in Epidermis.- E. Nervous Control.- I. Tanning.- II. Cuticle Plasticization.- F. The Integument and Water Relations.- I. Water Uptake.- II. Resistance to Water Loss.- G. Control of Chitin Orientation.- I. Epidermal Polarity and Gradients Related to Chitin Orientation.- II. Secondary Reorientation of Chitin.- III. Quantitative Measurements of Chitin Orientation in Beetles.- IV. Control of Chitin Microfibril Orientation-a Physiological Summary.- 7 Calcification.- A. Cuticle Ultrastructure in Crustacea.- B. Calcification in Crustacea.- C. Calcium Storage in Crustacea.- D. Calcification in Insects.- 8 Physical Properties.- A. Optical Properties.- I. Transparency.- II. Absorption.- III. Physical Colors.- IV. Reflection of UV Wavelengths.- V. Reflection of IR Wavelengths.- VI. Fluorescence.- VII. Cuticle Birefringence.- B. Cuticle and Sense Organs.- I. Eye Cuticle.- II. Infra-Red Sense Organs.- III. Mechanoreceptors.- IV. Chemoreceptor Cuticle.- C. Electrical Properties of Cuticle.- I. Isolated Cuticle Compared with Integument.- II. Location of Electrolyte Barrier.- III. Paths of Ions through Cuticle.- IV. Potential Difference across Cuticle.- V. An Electret in Cuticle.- VI. Electrical Models of Cuticle.- VII. Egg Cuticle.- VIII. Electrical Properties and Age ,.- IX. Active Membrane Response in Integument.- X. Piezoelectricity.- XI Cuticle as a Semi-Conductor Related to Calcification.- D. Mechanical Properties.- I. Cuticle as a Composite Material.- II. The Range of Cuticle Mechanical Properties.- III. Solid Cuticle.- IV. Resilin and Rubberlike Cuticle.- V. Female Locust Intersegmental Membrane.- VI. Cuticle Hardness.- VII. Silk Tensile Strength.- E. Aspects of Cuticle Penetration.- I. Permeability of Locust Tergal Cuticle.- II. Permeability of Locust Rectal Cuticle.- III. Cuticular Canals as Permeability Routes.- IV. Cockroach Grease as an Ion Sieve.- V. Outer Epicuticle as a Selective Filter.- VI. Permeability of Mayfly Larval Gills.- VII. Permeability of Egg Shells.- VIII. Cuticle and Pathogen Entry.- IX. Insecticide Penetration.- 9 Phylogenetical Aspects.- A. Ecdysis.- B. Resilin.- C. Cuticle Architecture.- D. Fossil Cuticle.- E. Cuticle Studies on Arthropod Groups.- I. Phylum Onychophora.- II. Class Chilopoda.- III. Class Diplopoda.- IV. Class Collembola.- V. Classes Symphyla and Diplura.- VI. Class Branchiopoda.- VII. Class Ostracoda.- VIII. Class Copepoda.- IX. Class Cirripedia.- X. Class Malacostraca.- XI Class Xiphosura.- XII. Class Arachnida.- 10 Outstanding Problems.- A. Tricks and Techniques.- B. Tissue Culture.- C. Immunology.- D. Some Physical Methods.- E. Ultrastructural and Functional Problems.- F. Developmental Problems.- G. Chemical Problems.- H. Mechanical Problems.- I. Ecological Problems.- References.- Species Index.