title: Unique structural features facilitate lizard tail autotomy.
abstract: Autotomy refers to the voluntary shedding of a body part; a renowned example is tail loss among lizards as a response to attempted predation. Although many aspects of lizard tail autotomy have been studied, the detailed morphology and mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we showed that tail shedding by the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) and the associated extracellular matrix (ECM) rupture were independent of proteolysis. Instead, lizard caudal autotomy relied on biological adhesion facilitated by surface microstructures. Results based on bio-imaging techniques demonstrated that the tail of Gekko gecko was pre-severed at distinct sites and that its structural integrity depended on the adhesion between these segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN), Interdiciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sanggaard
authors.forename: Carl Chr
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Danielsen
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wogensen
authors.forename: Mads S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vinding
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rydtoft
authors.forename: Martin B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karring
authors.forename: Niels Chr
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ida B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Thøgersen
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Enghild
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012652:Self Mutilation; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010447:Peptide Hydrolases