| Colour-producing {beta}-keratin nanofibres in blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) feathers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21307042 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The colours of living organisms are produced by the differential absorption of light by pigments (e.g. carotenoids, melanins) and/or by the physical interactions of light with biological nanostructures, referred to as structural colours. Only two fundamental morphologies of non-iridescent nanostructures are known in feathers, and recent work has proposed that they self-assemble by intracellular phase separation processes. Here, we report a new biophotonic nanostructure in the non-iridescent blue feather barbs of blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) composed of parallel β-keratin nanofibres organized into densely packed bundles. Synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering and two-dimensional Fourier analysis of electron micrographs of the barb nanostructure revealed short-range order in the organization of fibres at the appropriate size scale needed to produce the observed colour by coherent scattering. These two-dimensional quasi-ordered penguin nanostructures are convergent with similar arrays of parallel collagen fibres in avian and mammalian skin, but constitute a novel morphology for feathers. The identification of a new class of β-keratin nanostructures adds significantly to the known mechanisms of colour production in birds and suggests additional complexity in their self-assembly. |
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Authors:
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Liliana D'Alba; Vinodkumar Saranathan; Julia A Clarke; Jakob A Vinther; Richard O Prum; Matthew D Shawkey |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-2-9 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Biology letters Volume: - ISSN: 1744-957X ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-2-10 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101247722 Medline TA: Biol Lett Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, , Akron, OH 44325-3908, USA. |
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