Biological and Physical Basis of the Development of Integument and Associated Structures

The integument of organisms forms a physical barrier between the external and internal environments. Integuments differ greatly in nature and occur in various shapes, such as the cell wall in bacteria, fungi, algae and plants, the cuticle in arthropods, and the skin in vertebrates. The integumentary surface is rarely smooth; instead, it is usually covered in micro- and nanostructures that serve a variety of purposes, including environmental sensing, photonics, thermoregulation, substrate adhesion, hydrophobicity, and hydrophilicity. While integuments and their accompanying structures are extremely diverse, their material composition is frequently the result of developmental and evolutionary tinkering of a limited set of biopolymers like chitin, keratin, and cellulose, as well as various proteins, lipids, and pigments.

The morphogenesis of integumentary surfaces and nanostructures remains a vast and unexplored field. Their optimized, often hierarchical, structure suggests precise control over biomaterial assembly in space and time. However, how organisms exert precise nanometer control to produce different nanostructures and biomaterials with varying properties is still unknown. The need to identify the genetics, physics, and developmental processes that govern biomaterial organization and structure is especially important today where there is an increasing need for bio-inspired, sustainable material alternatives in manufacturing. With this collection of research articles, we aim to further our understanding of the genes and developmental processes used by biological systems to craft surface micro- and nanostructures through control of biomaterial properties.

In this Research Topic, we are looking for articles that address the genetics or developmental processes regulating integumentary, biopolymeric micro- and nanostructures in diverse organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Possible approaches range from experimental (e.g., functional cell developmental biology, genetics, genomics) to theoretical (e.g., photonics modeling, cell mechanics, phase separation thermodynamics). Eco-evo-devo approaches that link development and environmental factors are also welcome.