Unravelling the Molecular Secret of Insect's Construction Work.

A number of insect species are able to build complex nests from different materials, but the molecular secret of their construction work remains unknown. In the current project, the protein composition of insects´ “glue substance” will be investigated and specific proteins will be isolated, identified and characterized on the structural-functional level. Some of these proteins could be used to make the production of construction materials more environmentally friendly, which would have a huge environmental impact.