Resolving the structure and composition of spiders cuticular hair sensilla

Cuticular hair sensilla serve as mechanosensors (touch and flow sensing) for example in spiders. They are some of the most sensitive sensilla known in the animal kingdom. The hair-like structures appear simple, but show a striking performance in sensitivity, specificity and mechanical robustness. It is unknown how the architecture and the composition (chitin-protein) contribute to the mechanical and functional characteristics of the hair sensilla. Therefore, we apply to perform studies on two types of sensilla, namely tactile hair and flow sensitive trichobothria in C. salei. To do so we plan to scan SAXS/XRD/XRF at various region of two sensilla types along the hair shaft and the hair base to quantify chitin/protein ratio, the chitin fiber orientation and the distribution of halogens like Br. This work will allow for understanding the structure-properties-function relationships in arthropod sensors and will serve as archetype for bioinspired materials with embedded sensory functions