Fig. 3: Scale microstructure before and after injection of siRNA directed against His-rich CPs and Bmlac2A. | Communications Biology

Fig. 3: Scale microstructure before and after injection of siRNA directed against His-rich CPs and Bmlac2A.

From: Lepidopteran wing scales contain abundant cross-linked film-forming histidine-rich cuticular proteins

Fig. 3: Scale microstructure before and after injection of siRNA directed against His-rich CPs and Bmlac2A.

a Microstructure of scales in wildtype wing. Upper panel, low magnification SEM image (wing). Lower panel, high magnification SEM image (scale). Red arrows show: cr crossrib, mr microribs, r ridge, W window. b Knockdown experiments of His-rich CPs and BmlacA2. Compared to Control (siRNA for GFP), depletion of mRNAs of His-rich CP genes BmorCPR152 (45% His), BmorCPR82 (27% His), BmorCPR57 (15% His), or BmorCPR129 (10% His) caused scale abnormalities. Reduction of Bmlac2A mRNA in the pupal stage caused severe damage to scales, which seemed to encompass reduction of all His-rich CP mRNAs. magenta arrows, abnormal ridges; orange arrowhead, lack of microribs; white arrowheads, unexpected striations intersecting the microribs; blue arrowhead, extra window; yellow arrowheads, intertwining of cross ribs at the window region.

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