PROPERTIES OF RESILIN AND ELASTOMERS IN INSECTS.

A new 'family' of possible cross-linking groups from hinge ligaments of lamellibranchs were isolated and identified. The main members are 3,3'-methylene-bistyrosine, 3,3'-methylene-bis-dopa but there are also chlorinated compounds the origins of which are being investigated. The deposition of resilin and chitin were studied cytologically and three types of secretory granules were identified in the electron microscope but their chemical composition and identification awaits high resolution autoradiography now in progress. The work on the time course of incorporation of tyrosine was concluded. The optical properties of chitin were investigated and the results obtained so far indicate that the anomalous dispersion and interference colours are caused by a superstructure not hitherto taken into account. The birefringence and stability of cytoplasmic microtubules were studied quantitatively. It looks as if the birefringence of the spindle apparatus may be caused by the form birefringence of arrays of such tubules. (Author)