Resilina: flea gum
2006/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
Australian researchers have managed to produce a protein in a laboratory capable of giving large jumps to fleas. The protein is called resiline and thanks to it the flea preserves the elastic energy. According to scientists, resilina is the most elastic rubber, since it does not lose any elasticity, although it stretches again and again.
Other insects, such as flying insects, owe their resilina to the tissue that binds the wing and the body to no damage when flying.
To produce synthetic siline, scientists have extracted from a vinegar fly part of the gene responsible for the production of this protein. Then, E. coli has been introduced into the genome of a bacterium, which has allowed the bacterium to produce the precursor of the retina.
This precursor is liquid, but in light and using the catalyst ruthenium, a solid material of the same characteristics is obtained as the siline in 20 seconds. The suitability of this material for use in medicine is now being studied, it seems that it can be appropriate for the performance of implants as the substitution of the intervertebral disc.
