# Bursicon

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**Bursicon** (from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) *bursikos*, pertaining to tanning) is an [insect](/source/Insect) [hormone](/source/Hormone) which mediates tanning in the [cuticle](/source/Cuticle) of adult [flies](/source/Fly). This hormone was identified by [Gottfried S. Fraenkel](/source/Gottfried_S._Fraenkel) with his student Catherine Hsiao in 1965.[1]

## Structure

The molecular structure of the hormone has been characterized rather recently. Bursicon is a 30 kDa [neurohormone](/source/Neurohormone) [heterodimeric](/source/Protein_dimer) [protein](/source/Protein) which is encoded by CG13419 gene and made of two [cysteine knot](/source/Cysteine_knot) subunits, Burs-α and Burs-β.[2] It is [nondialyzable](/source/Dialysis_(chemistry)) and loses its activity in alcohol, acetone, some [proteases](/source/Protease) and [trichloroacetate](/source/Trichloroacetic_acid), renaturates after adding [ammonium sulfate](/source/Ammonium_sulfate).[3]

## Function

Bursicon plays a very important role in insect wing expansion during the last step of [metamorphosis](/source/Metamorphosis): [maturation](/source/Metamorphosis) of the wing. At this time, the newly emerged adult removes dead cells of [larval](/source/Larva) tissues. In *[Drosophila](/source/Drosophila)* and *[Lucilia cuprina](/source/Blow-fly)* fly, the epidermis of wing is detached by extensive cell death [apoptosis](/source/Apoptosis), at the time of wing spreading.

The cells that undergo death are removed from the wing cuticle and are absorbed into the [thoracic cavity](/source/Thoracic_cavity) through [wing veins](/source/Insect_wing). Subsequent wing maturation is disrupted if the process of cell death is inhibited or delayed somehow.

Bursicon is released just after [eclosion](/source/Pupa) and induces epidermis cell death. At the same time it hastens the tanning reaction, and hardens the newly expanded [cuticle](/source/Cuticle) of the wing.[4]

## Where the peptide is found

Bursicon is found in different insects and considered to be unspecific. It is produced by median neurosecretory cells in the brain, circulates in blood and stored in [corpora cardiaca](/source/Insect_diuretic_hormones).

The structure of the protein has been investigated well in fruit fly (*[Drosophila melanogaster](/source/Drosophila_melanogaster)*), and in some insect species bursicon gene has been sequenced, including the mosquito (*[Anopheles gambiae](/source/Anopheles_gambiae)*), cricket (*[Gryllus bimaculatus](/source/Gryllus_bimaculatus)*), locust (*[Locusta migratoria](/source/Locusta_migratoria)*), and mealworm (*[Tenebrio molitor](/source/Tenebrio_molitor)*).

The hormone is also present in the silkworm (*[Bombyx mori](/source/Bombyx_mori)*), blow fly (*[Calliphora erythrocephala](/source/Calliphora_erythrocephala)*), and cockroach (*[Periplaneta americana](/source/Periplaneta_americana)*).[5]

## Effect of absence

Firstly, mutants of *Drosophila melanogaster* that lack bursicon gene can not spread their wings after eclosion. Secondly, the elongated abdomen shape of a newly eclosed fly remains for a much longer period of time. In addition, the abdomen of a fly is less [melanized](/source/Melanin).[2]

Using [hybridization](/source/Hybrid_(biology)) and [immunocytochemistry](/source/Immunocytochemistry) it has been shown that bursicon is colocalized with [Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide](/source/Crustacean_Cardioactive_Peptide) ([CCAP](/source/Crustacean_Cardioactive_Peptide)). CCAP is responsible for activation of the [ecdysis](/source/Ecdysis) motor program. Mutant flies that had a defect in CCAP neurons also couldn’t express bursicon.[2]

## References

1. Fraenkel, G. & Hsiao, Catherine (1965). ["Bursicon, a hormone which mediates tanning of the cuticle in the adult fly and other insects"](https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/002219106590137X). *Journal of Insect Physiology*. **11** (5): 513–556. [doi:10.1016/0022-1910(65)90137-X](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1910(65)90137-X)

1. Dewey EM, McNabb SL, Ewer J (July 2004). "Identification of the gene encoding bursicon, an insect neuropeptide responsible for cuticle sclerotization and wing spreading". *Curr. Biol.*. **14** (13): 1208–13. [Bibcode:2004CBio...14.1208D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004CBio...14.1208D). [doi:10.1016/j.cub.2004.06.051](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2004.06.051). [PMID 15242619](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15242619)

1. Fraenkel G, Hsiao C, Seligman M (January 1966). "Properties of bursicon: an insect protein hormone that controls cuticular tanning". *Science*. **151** (3706): 91–3. [Bibcode:1966Sci...151...91F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1966Sci...151...91F). [doi:10.1126/science.151.3706.91](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.151.3706.91). [PMID 5908970](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5908970). [S2CID 39062433](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:39062433)

1. Huang J, Zhang Y, Li M (February 2007). "RNA interference-mediated silencing of the bursicon gene induces defects in wing expansion of silkworm". *FEBS Lett.*. **581** (4): 697–701. [Bibcode:2007FEBSL.581..697H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007FEBSL.581..697H). [doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2007.01.034](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2007.01.034). [PMID 17270178](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17270178). [S2CID 21816309](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:21816309)

1. Luo CW, Dewey EM, Sudo S, Ewer J, Hsu SY, Honegger HW, Hsueh AJ (February 2005). "Bursicon, the insect cuticle-hardening hormone, is a heterodimeric cystine knot protein that activates G protein-coupled receptor LGR2". *Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.*. **102** (8): 2820–5. [Bibcode:2005PNAS..102.2820L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005PNAS..102.2820L). [doi:10.1073/pnas.0409916102](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0409916102). [PMC 549504](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC549504). [PMID 15703293](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15703293)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bursicon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursicon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursicon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.