Arthropods

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Arthropodin is a water-soluble mixture of probably hundreds of different structural proteins which, in addition to chitin, are the main component of the exoskeleton (cuticle) of arthropods . Sclerotized by quinones , it becomes water-impermeable sclerotin , which gives the arthropod's exoskeleton its hardness. Associated with this is a change in color from brown to black.

Arthropodins are analogous to vertebrate keratin . However, it does not contain sulfur , which is why it does not smell as much when burned as, for example, burned hair or skin.

literature

  • W. Westheide, R. Rieger: Special Zoology. Part 1: Protozoa and invertebrates. 2nd edition, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 3-8274-1575-6 .
  • Michael N. Horst, John A. Freeman: The Crustacean Integument: Morphology and Biochemistry. CRC Press, 1993, ISBN 0849349869 , p. 81.