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Livraghi L, Hanly JJ, Van Bellghem SM, Montejo-Kovacevich G, van der Heijden ESM, Loh LS, Ren A, Warren IA, Lewis JJ, Concha C, Hebberecht L, Wright CJ, Walker JM, Foley J, Goldberg ZH, Arenas-Castro H, Salazar C, Perry MW, Papa R, Martin A, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD. Cortex cis-regulatory switches establish scale colour identity and pattern diversity in Heliconius. eLife 2021; 10:e68549. [PMID: 34280087 PMCID: PMC8289415 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In Heliconius butterflies, wing colour pattern diversity and scale types are controlled by a few genes of large effect that regulate colour pattern switches between morphs and species across a large mimetic radiation. One of these genes, cortex, has been repeatedly associated with colour pattern evolution in butterflies. Here we carried out CRISPR knockouts in multiple Heliconius species and show that cortex is a major determinant of scale cell identity. Chromatin accessibility profiling and introgression scans identified cis-regulatory regions associated with discrete phenotypic switches. CRISPR perturbation of these regions in black hindwing genotypes recreated a yellow bar, revealing their spatially limited activity. In the H. melpomene/timareta lineage, the candidate CRE from yellow-barred phenotype morphs is interrupted by a transposable element, suggesting that cis-regulatory structural variation underlies these mimetic adaptations. Our work shows that cortex functionally controls scale colour fate and that its cis-regulatory regions control a phenotypic switch in a modular and pattern-specific fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Livraghi
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Steven M Van Bellghem
- Department of Biology, Centre for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto RicoRio PiedrasPuerto Rico
| | | | - Eva SM van der Heijden
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Ling Sheng Loh
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Anna Ren
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Ian A Warren
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - James J Lewis
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | | | - Laura Hebberecht
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Charlotte J Wright
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonah M Walker
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Zachary H Goldberg
- Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | | | - Camilo Salazar
- Biology Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad del RosarioBogotáColombia
| | - Michael W Perry
- Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, Centre for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto RicoRio PiedrasPuerto Rico
| | - Arnaud Martin
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
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McMillan WO, Livraghi L, Concha C, Hanly JJ. From Patterning Genes to Process: Unraveling the Gene Regulatory Networks That Pattern Heliconius Wings. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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Dick C, Arendt J, Reznick DN, Hayashi CY. The developmental and genetic trajectory of coloration in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Evol Dev 2018; 20:207-218. [PMID: 30191662 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Examining the association between trait variation and development is crucial for understanding the evolution of phenotypic differences. Male guppy ornamental caudal fin coloration is one trait that shows a striking degree of variation within and between guppy populations. Males initially have no caudal fin coloration, then gradually develop it as they reach sexual maturity. For males, there is a trade-off between female preference for caudal fin coloration and increased visibility to predators. This trade-off may reach unique endpoints in males from different predation regimes. Caudal fin coloration includes black melanin, orange/yellow pteridines or carotenoids, and shimmering iridescence. This study examined the phenotypic trajectory and genetics associated with color development. We found that black coloration always developed first, followed by orange/yellow, then iridescence. The ordering and timing of color appearance was the same regardless of predation regime. The increased expression of melanin synthesis genes correlated well with the visual appearance of black coloration, but there was no correlation between carotenoids or pteridine synthesis gene expression and the appearance of orange/yellow. The lack of orange/yellow coloration in earlier male caudal fin developmental stages may be due to reduced expression of genes underlying the development of orange/yellow xanthophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Dick
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Jeff Arendt
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - David N Reznick
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Cheryl Y Hayashi
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
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Jiggins CD, Wallbank RWR, Hanly JJ. Waiting in the wings: what can we learn about gene co-option from the diversification of butterfly wing patterns? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2015.0485. [PMID: 27994126 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge is to understand how conserved gene regulatory networks control the wonderful diversity of form that we see among animals and plants. Butterfly wing patterns are an excellent example of this diversity. Butterfly wings form as imaginal discs in the caterpillar and are constructed by a gene regulatory network, much of which is conserved across the holometabolous insects. Recent work in Heliconius butterflies takes advantage of genomic approaches and offers insights into how the diversification of wing patterns is overlaid onto this conserved network. WntA is a patterning morphogen that alters spatial information in the wing. Optix is a transcription factor that acts later in development to paint specific wing regions red. Both of these loci fit the paradigm of conserved protein-coding loci with diverse regulatory elements and developmental roles that have taken on novel derived functions in patterning wings. These discoveries offer insights into the 'Nymphalid Ground Plan', which offers a unifying hypothesis for pattern formation across nymphalid butterflies. These loci also represent 'hotspots' for morphological change that have been targeted repeatedly during evolution. Both convergent and divergent evolution of a great diversity of patterns is controlled by complex alleles at just a few genes. We suggest that evolutionary change has become focused on one or a few genetic loci for two reasons. First, pre-existing complex cis-regulatory loci that already interact with potentially relevant transcription factors are more likely to acquire novel functions in wing patterning. Second, the shape of wing regulatory networks may constrain evolutionary change to one or a few loci. Overall, genomic approaches that have identified wing patterning loci in these butterflies offer broad insight into how gene regulatory networks evolve to produce diversity.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evo-devo in the genomics era, and the origins of morphological diversity'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Richard W R Wallbank
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
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Wilts BD, Vey AJM, Briscoe AD, Stavenga DG. Longwing (Heliconius) butterflies combine a restricted set of pigmentary and structural coloration mechanisms. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:226. [PMID: 29162029 PMCID: PMC5699198 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1073-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Longwing butterflies, Heliconius sp., also called heliconians, are striking examples of diversity and mimicry in butterflies. Heliconians feature strongly colored patterns on their wings, arising from wing scales colored by pigments and/or nanostructures, which serve as an aposematic signal. RESULTS Here, we investigate the coloration mechanisms among several species of Heliconius by applying scanning electron microscopy, (micro)spectrophotometry, and imaging scatterometry. We identify seven kinds of colored scales within Heliconius whose coloration is derived from pigments, nanostructures or both. In yellow-, orange- and red-colored wing patches, both cover and ground scales contain wavelength-selective absorbing pigments, 3-OH-kynurenine, xanthommatin and/or dihydroxanthommatin. In blue wing patches, the cover scales are blue either due to interference of light in the thin-film lower lamina (e.g., H. doris) or in the multilayered lamellae in the scale ridges (so-called ridge reflectors, e.g., H. sara and H. erato); the underlying ground scales are black. In the white wing patches, both cover and ground scales are blue due to their thin-film lower lamina, but because they are stacked upon each other and at the wing substrate, a faint bluish to white color results. Lastly, green wing patches (H. doris) have cover scales with blue-reflecting thin films and short-wavelength absorbing 3-OH-kynurenine, together causing a green color. CONCLUSIONS The pigmentary and structural traits are discussed in relation to their phylogenetic distribution and the evolution of vision in this highly interesting clade of butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo D Wilts
- Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Aidan J M Vey
- Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana D Briscoe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Doekele G Stavenga
- Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Dalbosco Dell'Aglio D, Akkaynak D, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD. Estimating the age of Heliconius butterflies from calibrated photographs. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3821. [PMID: 28970967 PMCID: PMC5622606 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating behaviour and predation avoidance in Heliconius involve visual colour signals; however, there is considerable inter-individual phenotypic variation in the appearance of colours. In particular, the red pigment varies from bright crimson to faded red. It has been thought that this variation is primarily due to pigment fading with age, although this has not been explicitly tested. Previous studies have shown the importance of red patterns in mate choice and that birds and butterflies might perceive these small colour differences. Using digital photography and calibrated colour images, we investigated whether the hue variation in the forewing dorsal red band of Heliconius melpomene rosina corresponds with age. We found that the red hue and age were highly associated, suggesting that red colour can indeed be used as a proxy for age in the study of wild-caught butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Dalbosco Dell'Aglio
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Derya Akkaynak
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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Aymone ACB, Lothhammer N, Valente VLDS, de Araújo AM. Embryogenesis of Heliconius erato (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae): a contribution to the anatomical development of an evo-devo model organism. Dev Growth Differ 2014; 56:448-59. [PMID: 25112499 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study reports on the embryogenesis of Heliconius erato phyllis between blastoderm formation and the prehatching larval stage. Syncytial blastoderm formation occurred approximately 2 h after egg laying (AEL) and at about 4 h, the cellular blastoderm was formed. The germ band arose from the entire length of the blastoderm, and rapidly became compacted occupying approximately two-thirds of the egg length. At about 7 h AEL, protocephalon and protocorm differentiation occurred. Continued proliferation of the germ band was followed by penetration into the yolk mass, forming a C-shaped embryo at about 10 h. Approximately 12 h AEL, the gnathal, thoracic and abdominal segments became visible. The primordium of the mouthparts and thoracic legs formed as paired evaginations, while the prolegs formed as paired lobes. At about 30 h, the embryo reversed dorsoventrally. Approximately 32 h AEL, the protocephalon and gnathal segments fused, shifting the relative position of the rudimentary appendages in this region. At about 52 h, the embryo was U-shaped in lateral view and at approximately 56 h, the bristles began evagination from the larval cuticle. Larvae hatched at about 72 h. We found that H. erato phyllis followed an embryonic pattern consistent with long-germ embryogenesis. Thus, we believe that H. erato phyllis should be classified as a long-germ lepidopteran. The study of H. erato phyllis embryogenesis provided a structural glimpse into the morphogenetic events that occur in the Heliconius egg period. This study could help future molecular approaches to understanding the evolution of Heliconius development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Bahi Aymone
- Post-Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, C.P. 15053, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Brazil
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Martin A, McCulloch KJ, Patel NH, Briscoe AD, Gilbert LE, Reed RD. Multiple recent co-options of Optix associated with novel traits in adaptive butterfly wing radiations. EvoDevo 2014; 5:7. [PMID: 24499528 PMCID: PMC3922110 DOI: 10.1186/2041-9139-5-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While the ecological factors that drive phenotypic radiations are often well understood, less is known about the generative mechanisms that cause the emergence and subsequent diversification of novel features. Heliconius butterflies display an extraordinary diversity of wing patterns due in part to mimicry and sexual selection. Identifying the genetic drivers of this crucible of evolution is now within reach, as it was recently shown that cis-regulatory variation of the optix transcription factor explains red pattern differences in the adaptive radiations of the Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius erato species groups. Results Here, we compare the developmental expression of the Optix protein across a large phylogenetic sample of butterflies and infer that its color patterning role originated at the base of the neotropical passion-vine butterfly clade (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Tribe: Heliconiini), shortly predating multiple Optix-driven wing pattern radiations in the speciose Heliconius and Eueides genera. We also characterize novel Optix and Doublesex expression in the male-specific pheromone wing scales of the basal heliconiines Dryas and Agraulis, thus illustrating that within the Heliconinii lineage, Optix has been evolutionarily redeployed in multiple contexts in association with diverse wing features. Conclusions Our findings reveal that the repeated co-option of Optix into various aspects of wing scale specification was associated with multiple evolutionary novelties over a relatively short evolutionary time scale. In particular, the recruitment of Optix expression in colored scale cell precursors was a necessary condition to the explosive diversification of passion-vine butterfly wing patterns. The novel deployment of a gene followed by spatial modulation of its expression in a given cell type could be a common mode of developmental innovation for triggering phenotypic radiations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Martin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Pardo-Diaz C, Jiggins CD. Neighboring genes shaping a single adaptive mimetic trait. Evol Dev 2014; 16:3-12. [DOI: 10.1111/ede.12058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Pardo-Diaz
- Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ United Kingdom
| | - Chris D. Jiggins
- Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EJ United Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Balboa AA2072 Panama
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