Hypothesis Testing in Evolutionary Developmental Biology: A Case Study from Insect Wings

What serial homologs can tell us about the origin of insect wings

Although the insect wing is a textbook example of morphological novelty, the origin of insect wings remains a mystery and is regarded as a chief conundrum in biology. Centuries of debates have culminated into two prominent hypotheses: the tergal origin hypothesis and the pleural origin hypothesis. However, between these two hypotheses, there is little consensus in regard to the origin tissue of the wing as well as the evolutionary route from the origin tissue to the functional flight device. Recent evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) studies have shed new light on the origin of insect wings. A key concept in these studies is “serial homology”. In this review, we discuss how the wing serial homologs identified in recent evo-devo studies have provided a new angle through which this century-old conundrum can be explored. We also review what we have learned so far from wing serial homologs and discuss what we can do to go beyond simply identifying wing serial homologs and delve further into the developmental and genetic mechanisms that have facilitated the evolution of insect wings.

Origin and diversification of wings: Insights from a neopteran insect

Winged insects underwent an unparalleled evolutionary radiation, but mechanisms underlying the origin and diversification of wings in basal insects are sparsely known compared with more derived holometabolous insects. In the neopteran species Oncopeltus fasciatus, we manipulated wing specification genes and used RNA-seq to obtain both functional and genomic perspectives. Combined with previous studies, our results suggest the following key steps in wing origin and diversification. First, a set of dorsally derived outgrowths evolved along a number of body segments including the first thoracic segment (T1). Homeotic genes were subsequently co-opted to suppress growth of some dorsal flaps in the thorax and abdomen. In T1 this suppression was accomplished by Sex combs reduced, that when experimentally removed, results in an ectopic T1 flap similar to prothoracic winglets present in fossil hemipteroids and other early insects. Global gene-expression differences in ectopic T1 vs. T2/T3 wings suggest that the transition from flaps to wings required ventrally originating cells, homologous with those in ancestral arthropod gill flaps/epipods, to migrate dorsally and fuse with the dorsal flap tissue thereby bringing new functional gene networks; these presumably enabled the T2/T3 wing's increased size and functionality. Third, "fused" wings became both the wing blade and surrounding regions of the dorsal thorax cuticle, providing tissue for subsequent modifications including wing folding and the fit of folded wings. Finally, Ultrabithorax was co-opted to uncouple the morphology of T2 and T3 wings and to act as a general modifier of hindwings, which in turn governed the subsequent diversification of lineage-specific wing forms.

Insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying diversified wing venation among insects

Insect wings are great resources for studying morphological diversities in nature as well as in fossil records. Among them, variation in wing venation is one of the most characteristic features of insect species. Venation is therefore, undeniably a key factor of species-specific functional traits of the wings; however, the mechanism underlying wing vein formation among insects largely remains unexplored. Our knowledge of the genetic basis of wing development is solely restricted to Drosophila melanogaster. A critical step in wing vein development in Drosophila is the activation of the decapentaplegic (Dpp)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling pathway during pupal stages. A key mechanism is the directional transport of Dpp from the longitudinal veins into the posterior crossvein by BMP-binding proteins, resulting in redistribution of Dpp that reflects wing vein patterns. Recent works on the sawfly Athalia rosae, of the order Hymenoptera, also suggested that the Dpp transport system is required to specify fore- and hindwing vein patterns. Given that Dpp redistribution via transport is likely to be a key mechanism for establishing wing vein patterns, this raises the interesting possibility that distinct wing vein patterns are generated, based on where Dpp is transported. Experimental evidence in Drosophila suggests that the direction of Dpp transport is regulated by prepatterned positional information. These observations lead to the postulation that Dpp generates diversified insect wing vein patterns through species-specific positional information of its directional transport. Extension of these observations in some winged insects will provide further insights into the mechanisms underlying diversified wing venation among insects.

A common set of DNA regulatory elements shapes Drosophila appendages

Animals have body parts made of similar cell types located at different axial positions, such as limbs. The identity and distinct morphology of each structure is often specified by the activity of different "master regulator" transcription factors. Although similarities in gene expression have been observed between body parts made of similar cell types, how regulatory information in the genome is differentially utilized to create morphologically diverse structures in development is not known. Here, we use genome-wide open chromatin profiling to show that among the Drosophila appendages, the same DNA regulatory modules are accessible throughout the genome at a given stage of development, except at the loci encoding the master regulators themselves. In addition, open chromatin profiles change over developmental time, and these changes are coordinated between different appendages. We propose that master regulators create morphologically distinct structures by differentially influencing the function of the same set of DNA regulatory modules.

Insights into insect wing origin provided by functional analysis of vestigial in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Despite accumulating efforts to unveil the origin of insect wings, it remains one of the principal mysteries in evolution. Currently, there are two prominent models regarding insect wing origin: one connecting the origin to the paranotal lobe and the other to the proximodorsal leg branch (exite). However, neither hypothesis has been able to surpass the other. To approach this conundrum, we focused our analysis on vestigial (vg), a critical wing gene initially identified in Drosophila. Our investigation in Tribolium (Coleoptera) has revealed that, despite the well-accepted view of vg as an essential wing gene, there are two groups of vg-dependent tissues in the "wingless" first thoracic segment (T1). We show that one of these tissues, the carinated margin, also depends on other factors essential for wing development (such as Wingless signal and apterous), and has nubbin enhancer activity. In addition, our homeotic mutant analysis shows that wing transformation in T1 originates from both the carinated margin and the other vg-dependent tissue, the pleural structures (trochantin and epimeron). Intriguingly, these two tissues may actually be homologous to the two proposed wing origins (paranotal lobes and exite bearing proximal leg segments). Therefore, our findings suggest that the vg-dependent tissues in T1 could be wing serial homologs present in a more ancestral state, thus providing compelling functional evidence for the dual origin of insect wings.

Dpp-induced Egfr signaling triggers postembryonic wing development in Drosophila

The acquisition of flight contributed to the success of insects and winged forms are present in most orders. Key to understanding the origin of wings will be knowledge of the earliest postembryonic events promoting wing outgrowth. The Drosophila melanogaster wing is intensely studied as a model appendage, and yet little is known about the beginning of wing outgrowth. Vein (Vn) is a neuregulin-like ligand for the EGF receptor (Egfr), which is necessary for global development of the early Drosophila wing disc. vn is not expressed in the embryonic wing primordium and thus has to be induced de novo in the nascent larval wing disc. We find that Decapentaplegic (Dpp), a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family member, provides the instructive signal for initiating vn expression. The signaling involves paracrine communication between two epithelia in the early disc. Once initiated, vn expression is amplified and maintained by autocrine signaling mediated by the E-twenty six (ETS)-factor PointedP2 (PntP2). This interplay of paracrine and autocrine signaling underlies the spatial and temporal pattern of induction of Vn/Egfr target genes and explains both body wall development and wing outgrowth. It is possible this gene regulatory network governing expression of an EGF ligand is conserved and reflects a common origin of insect wings.

Functional conservation and divergence of BMP ligands in limb development and lipid homeostasis of holometabolous insects

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands play key roles in regulating morphological and physiological traits. To investigate how the functions of BMP ligands have evolved among insects, the roles of two key BMP ligands, decapentaplegic (dpp) and glass bottom boat (gbb), were studied in the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. RNA interference-mediated knockdown revealed that the role of dpp in establishing limb segmentation is conserved among insects. Based on the expression pattern of dpp in the presumptive leg tarsal segments, we propose that the function of dpp has evolved through heterochronic changes during the evolution of complete metamorphosis. Gbb1 was found to be necessary for sculpting the tarsal segment morphology characteristic of beetles. Knockdown of Dpp and Gbb1 expression also resulted in transparent larvae and reduced triglyceride levels, indicating their critical roles in maintaining lipid homeostasis. Both knockdown phenotypes were mediated by larval translucida. Because only Gbb regulates lipid metabolism in Drosophila, regulation of lipid homeostasis appears to have evolved by developmental systems drift. Thus, developmental systems drift may underlie evolution of both morphology and physiological processes.

Isolation of Hox cluster genes from insects reveals an accelerated sequence evolution rate

Among gene families it is the Hox genes and among metazoan animals it is the insects (Hexapoda) that have attracted particular attention for studying the evolution of development. Surprisingly though, no Hox genes have been isolated from 26 out of 35 insect orders yet, and the existing sequences derive mainly from only two orders (61% from Hymenoptera and 22% from Diptera). We have designed insect specific primers and isolated 37 new partial homeobox sequences of Hox cluster genes (lab, pb, Hox3, ftz, Antp, Scr, abd-a, Abd-B, Dfd, and Ubx) from six insect orders, which are crucial to insect phylogenetics. These new gene sequences provide a first step towards comparative Hox gene studies in insects. Furthermore, comparative distance analyses of homeobox sequences reveal a correlation between gene divergence rate and species radiation success with insects showing the highest rate of homeobox sequence evolution.

The expression of wingless and Engrailed in developing embryos of the mayfly Ephoron leukon (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae)

The expression of the segment polarity genes wingless (wg) and engrailed (en) is highly conserved across arthropods, and these genes play a crucial role in patterning of the segmental body plan. Investigations of the expression and function of wg and en have focused primarily upon holometabolous insects, with the notable exception of recent detailed work in Oncopeltus (Hemiptera), Schistocerca, and Gryllus (Orthoptera). An increase in the phylogenetic breadth of our understanding of molecular patterning is crucial to ascertain the extent of conservation and divergence in molecular patterning mechanisms during insect embryogenesis. We examined the expression of wg mRNA transcripts and localization of En protein during embryogenesis in the mayfly Ephoron leukon (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae). These data represent one of the first embryonic gene expression pattern data for a mayfly, a lineage that may be the sister group to all other winged insects. Many aspects of wg and En expression are highly conserved, notably their expression in juxtaposed stripes in each parasegment, as well as expression domains in the procephalon, mouthparts, thoracic limbs, and nervous system. Future work in mayflies can be used to determine if conservation extends to other components of the segmentation hierarchy.

Comprehensive survey of developmental genes in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum: frequent lineage-specific duplications and losses of developmental genes

Aphids exhibit unique attributes, such as polyphenisms and specialized cells to house endosymbionts, that make them an interesting system for studies at the interface of ecology, evolution and development. Here we present a comprehensive characterization of the developmental genes in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and compare our results to other sequenced insects. We investigated genes involved in fundamental developmental processes such as establishment of the body plan and organogenesis, focusing on transcription factors and components of signalling pathways. We found that most developmental genes were well conserved in the pea aphid, although many lineage-specific gene duplications and gene losses have occurred in several gene families. In particular, genetic components of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) Wnt, JAK/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) and EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) pathways appear to have been significantly modified in the pea aphid.

Wings, horns, and butterfly eyespots: how do complex traits evolve?

Do novel complex traits evolve when pre-existent complex developmental networks are recruited into new places in the body? Here we look closely at the genomic fingerprints that are produced as a result of gene network co-option.

The evolution of arthropod heads: reconciling morphological, developmental and palaeontological evidence

Understanding the head is one of the great challenges in the fields of comparative anatomy, developmental biology, and palaeontology of arthropods. Numerous conflicting views and interpretations are based on an enormous variety of descriptive and experimental approaches. The interpretation of the head influences views on phylogenetic relationships within the Arthropoda as well as outgroup relationships. Here, we review current hypotheses about head segmentation and the nature of head structures from various perspectives, which we try to combine to gain a deeper understanding of the arthropod head. Though discussion about arthropod heads shows some progress, unquestioned concepts (e.g., a presegmental acron) are still a source of bias. Several interpretations are no longer tenable based on recent results from comparative molecular developmental studies, improved morphological investigations, and new fossils. Current data indicate that the anterior arthropod head comprises three elements: the protocerebral/ocular region, the deutocerebral/antennal/cheliceral segment, and the tritocerebral/pedipalpal/second antennal/intercalary segment. The labrum and the mouth are part of the protocerebral/ocular region. Whether the labrum derives from a former pair of limbs remains an open question, but a majority of data support its broad homology across the Euarthropoda. From the alignment of head segments between onychophorans and euarthropods, we develop the concept of "primary" and "secondary antennae" in Recent and fossil arthropods, posit that "primary antennae" are retained in some fossil euarthropods below the crown group level, and propose that Trilobita are stem lineage representatives of the Mandibulata.

The roles of wingless and decapentaplegic in axis and appendage development in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Axis patterning and appendage development have been well studied in Drosophila melanogaster, a species in which both limb and segment morphogenesis are derived. In Drosophila, positional information from genes important in anteroposterior and dorsoventral axis formation, including wingless (wg) and decapentaplegic (dpp), is required for allocating and patterning the appendage primordia. We used RNA interference to characterize the functions of wg and dpp in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, which retains more ancestral modes of limb and segment morphogenesis. We also characterized the expression of potential targets of the WG and DPP signaling pathways in these embryos. Tribolium embryos in which dpp had been downregulated had defects in the dorsalmost body wall, but did not appear to have been globally repatterned and had normal appendages. Downregulation of wg led to the loss of segment boundaries, gnathal and thoracic appendages, and lateral head lobes, and to changes in the expression of dpp, Distal-less, and Engrailed. The functions of wg varied along both the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes of the embryo. Phylogenetic comparisons indicate that the role of WNT signaling in segment boundary formation is evolutionarily old, but that its role in appendage allocation originated in the common ancestor of holometabolous insects.

Comparative Developmental Genetics and the Evolution of Arthropod Body Plans

The arthropods display a wide range of morphological diversity, varying tagmosis, as well as other aspects of the body plan, such as appendage and cuticular morphology. Here we review the roles of developmental regulatory genes in the evolution of arthropod morphology, with an emphasis on what is known from morphologically diverse species. Examination of tagmatic evolution reveals that these changes have been accompanied by changes in the expression patterns of Hox genes. In contrast, review of the modifications to wing morphology seen in insects shows that these body plan changes have generally favored alterations in downstream target genes. These and other examples are used to discuss the evolutionary implications of comparative developmental genetic data.

Homology and ontogeny: pattern and process in comparative developmental biology

In this article the interface between development and homology is discussed. Development is here interpreted as a sequence of evolutionarily independent stages. Any approach stressing the importance of specific developmental stages is rejected. A homology definition is favoured which includes similarity, and complexity serves as a test for homology. Complexity is seen as the possibility of subdividing a character into evolutionarily independent corresponding substructures. Topology as a test for homology is critically discussed because corresponding positions are not necessarily indicative of homology. Complexity can be used twofold for homology assessments of development: either stages or processes of development are homologized. These two approaches must not be con-flated. This distinction leads to the conclusion that there is no ontogenetic homology "criterion".

Insect appendages and comparative ontogenetics

It is arguable that the evolutionary and ecological success of insects is due in large part to the versatility of their articulated appendages. Recent advances in our understanding of appendage development in Drosophila melanogaster, as well as functional and expression studies in other insect species have begun to frame the general themes of appendage development in the insects. Here, we review current studies that provide for a comparison of limb developmental mechanisms acting at five levels: (1) the specification of ventral appendage primordia; (2) specification of the limb axes; (3) regulation and interactions of genes expressed in specific domains of the proximal-distal axis, such as Distal-less; (4) the specification of appendage identity; and (5) genetic regulation of appendage allometry.

Functional analyses in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus (Hemiptera) support a role for Wnt signaling in body segmentation but not appendage development

Specification of the proximal-distal (PD) axis of insect appendages is best understood in Drosophila melanogaster, where conserved signaling molecules encoded by the genes decapentaplegic (dpp) and wingless (wg) play key roles. However, the development of appendages from imaginal discs as in Drosophila is a derived state, while more basal insects produce appendages from embryonic limb buds. Therefore, the universality of the Drosophila limb PD axis specification mechanism has been debated since dpp expression in more basal insect species differs dramatically from Drosophila. Here, we test the function of Wnt signaling in the development of the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus, a species with the basal state of appendage development from limb buds. RNA interference of wg and pangolin (pan) produce defects in the germband and eyes, but not in the appendages. Distal-less and dachshund, two genes regulated by Wg signaling in Drosophila and expressed in specific PD domains along the limbs of both species, are expressed normally in the limbs of pan-depleted Oncopeltus embryos. Despite these apparently paradoxical results, Armadillo protein, the transducer of Wnt signaling, does not accumulate properly in the nuclei of cells in the legs of pan-depleted embryos. In contrast, engrailed RNAi in Oncopeltus produces cuticular and appendage defects similar to Drosophila. Therefore, our data suggest that Wg signaling is functionally conserved in the development of the germband, while it is not essential in the specification of the limb PD axis in Oncopeltus and perhaps basal insects.