The cuticular surface of D. melanogaster: ToF-SIMS on the fly

Insects rely on chemicals to communicate, regulate water balance, and provide a protective barrier against infection. Drosophila melanogaster generates hydrocarbons to perform such functions, and these compounds coat the cuticular surface of the fly. Very little is known about the surface properties of these compounds, how they are arranged and whether they are evenly or unevenly distributed. Here, we begin to address these questions using time of flight (TOF) SIMS. We demonstrate that we can identify synthetic compounds, and that we can detect male-female differences. We used polished silicon wafers as a substrate for the application of synthetic compounds, as well as dissected bits of the cuticle taken from wild-type males and females. Application of the Bi(3)(+) cluster source-obtained spectra that describe the properties of synthetic compounds that served as standards. Spectra obtained from the sections of dissected cuticle were complex but sex-based differences are evident. Thus, in principle, TOF-SIMS will be especially informative in future studies that elucidate physical properties of the epicuticular surface of the fly. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.