By Stephen Beech via SWNS
How the vibrant colors of butterfly wings are shaped has been discovered.
University of Sheffield scientists were able to investigate the developmental stages of butterfly scales – tracing their formation from a caterpillar – using cutting-edge “super resolution” microscope technology.
Working with colleagues at Central Laser Facility, they found that actin – a protein in butterfly’s scales – orchestrates the intricate arrangement of the colorful structures.
The research team hope their findings will help develop nature-inspired new medical technology.
When comparing colorful scales to dull ones, the researchers noticed that the colorful ones had much denser actin bundles, creating more reflective ridges.
Using powerful microscopes, they watched as actin shifted during scale growth and color formation, showing how actin is “crucial” for creating butterfly colors, and is likely a universal process among all butterflies.
The structural colors can survive harsh environments – such as strong, direct sunlight – as there are no pigments to get bleached or damaged.
By investigating the mechanisms behind the coloring of butterfly wings, the Sheffield team hope to gain insights into broader areas of cell structure formation – including potential applications in sensing and diagnostics.
They say their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, have created opportunities for the development of innovative technology inspired by nature’s own creations.
Study lead author Dr. Andrew Parnell says structural color-based technologies, mimicking the reflective properties of butterfly scales, hold promise in fields such as sensors and medical diagnostics, offering rapid solutions outside traditional lab-based approaches.
Dr. Parnell said: “Actin is like a dressmaker, laying out and pinning the arrangement of these structures to shape the vibrant colors.
“Once the actin has finished its work it departs the cell like the removal of pins in dressmaking.
“Butterfly scale nanostructures are a powerful way in which to make long lasting bright colors that don’t fade or become bleached by the Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun. The museums of the world contain direct evidence of this.
“We need to transition to nature inspired ways to make such bright colors. This would be on a larger scale as new kinds of sustainable paints and coatings.”
Study co-author Dr. Nicola Nadeau said: “I find it fascinating that during metamorphosis, butterflies are able to produce these incredibly complicated structures that are so intricately patterned.
“Understanding how they do that and how it’s controlled by the machinery within the cell has given us new insights into how biological structures are formed more generally and how we might go about replicating those processes”
Dr. Esther Garcia, of Central Laser Facility, said: “As a microscopist, being part of this project has been incredibly exciting – we have visualized butterfly scales with an unprecedented level of detail.
“This research not only provides novel information on the tiny parts of these cells, but also constitutes a tool for other scientists interested in studying similar structures in other organisms.”
Study first author Dr. Victoria Lloyd, a Research Associate at Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, added: “Showing that disrupting actin removes the color was key.
“It underscores the dynamic and indispensable role actin plays in producing the vibrant colors found in butterfly scales.”
