Fig. 5: TauSTED super resolution imaging of actin filaments associated with various scale ultrastructures.
From: The actin cytoskeleton plays multiple roles in structural colour formation in butterfly wing scales
Merge of actin (phalloidin, green) and chitin (CBD-TMR, magenta). Cartoon insets highlight the purported location of the actin filaments (green) and the associated cuticle structure (magenta). A Black scale at 63% development, with (Ai) showing an enlarged view of a scale finger. The ridges at the edge of the scale finger are angled out of plane revealing the layering of a cuticle ridge and actin filaments below. B Black scale at 69% development, with numerous individual actin filaments patterned along the side of a ridge (Bi), appearing like the microribs of adult scales. C Iridescent scale at 75% development. The main scale body is filled with square ‘blocks’ of actin. The enlarged section (Ci) indicates the blocks of actin occur within the window regions in between the crossribs but do not fill these regions entirely. Scale bars: (A–C) 10 μm; (Ai, Bi, Ci) 2 μm.
