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Lafuente E, Alves F, King JG, Peralta CM, Beldade P. Many ways to make darker flies: Intra- and interspecific variation in Drosophila body pigmentation components. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8136-8155. [PMID: 34188876 PMCID: PMC8216949 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Body pigmentation is an evolutionarily diversified and ecologically relevant trait with substantial variation within and between species, and important roles in animal survival and reproduction. Insect pigmentation, in particular, provides some of the most compelling examples of adaptive evolution, including its ecological significance and genetic bases. Pigmentation includes multiple aspects of color and color pattern that may vary more or less independently, and can be under different selective pressures. We decompose Drosophila thorax and abdominal pigmentation, a valuable eco-evo-devo model, into distinct measurable traits related to color and color pattern. We investigate intra- and interspecific variation for those traits and assess its different sources. For each body part, we measured overall darkness, as well as four other pigmentation properties distinguishing between background color and color of the darker pattern elements that decorate each body part. By focusing on two standard D. melanogaster laboratory populations, we show that pigmentation components vary and covary in distinct manners depending on sex, genetic background, and temperature during development. Studying three natural populations of D. melanogaster along a latitudinal cline and five other Drosophila species, we then show that evolution of lighter or darker bodies can be achieved by changing distinct component traits. Our results paint a much more complex picture of body pigmentation variation than previous studies could uncover, including patterns of sexual dimorphism, thermal plasticity, and interspecific diversity. These findings underscore the value of detailed quantitative phenotyping and analysis of different sources of variation for a better understanding of phenotypic variation and diversification, and the ecological pressures and genetic mechanisms underlying them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Lafuente
- Instituto Gulbenkian de CiênciaOeirasPortugal
- Present address:
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDepartment of Aquatic EcologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | | | - Jessica G. King
- Instituto Gulbenkian de CiênciaOeirasPortugal
- Present address:
Institute of Evolutionary BiologySchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Carolina M. Peralta
- Instituto Gulbenkian de CiênciaOeirasPortugal
- Present address:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyPlönGermany
| | - Patrícia Beldade
- Instituto Gulbenkian de CiênciaOeirasPortugal
- CE3C: Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Changes, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of LisbonLisbonPortugal
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2
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Mugal CF, Wang M, Backström N, Wheatcroft D, Ålund M, Sémon M, McFarlane SE, Dutoit L, Qvarnström A, Ellegren H. Tissue-specific patterns of regulatory changes underlying gene expression differences among Ficedula flycatchers and their naturally occurring F 1 hybrids. Genome Res 2020; 30:1727-1739. [PMID: 33144405 PMCID: PMC7706733 DOI: 10.1101/gr.254508.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Changes in interacting cis- and trans-regulatory elements are important candidates for Dobzhansky-Muller hybrid incompatibilities and may contribute to hybrid dysfunction by giving rise to misexpression in hybrids. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms and determinants of gene expression evolution in natural populations, we analyzed the transcriptome from multiple tissues of two recently diverged Ficedula flycatcher species and their naturally occurring F1 hybrids. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that the extent of differentiation between species and the set of differentially expressed genes varied across tissues. Common to all tissues, a higher proportion of Z-linked genes than autosomal genes showed differential expression, providing evidence for a fast-Z effect. We further found clear signatures of hybrid misexpression in brain, heart, kidney, and liver. However, while testis showed the highest divergence of gene expression among tissues, it showed no clear signature of misexpression in F1 hybrids, even though these hybrids were found to be sterile. It is therefore unlikely that incompatibilities between cis-trans regulatory changes explain the observed sterility. Instead, we found evidence that cis-regulatory changes play a significant role in the evolution of gene expression in testis, which illustrates the tissue-specific nature of cis-regulatory evolution bypassing constraints associated with pleiotropic effects of genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina F Mugal
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mi Wang
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Niclas Backström
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David Wheatcroft
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Murielle Ålund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Marie Sémon
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.,ENS de Lyon, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon University, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - S Eryn McFarlane
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Anna Qvarnström
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Ellegren
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
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3
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Zhang Y, Wang XX, Feng ZJ, Cong HS, Chen ZS, Li YD, Yang WM, Zhang SQ, Shen LF, Tian HG, Feng Y, Liu TX. Superficially Similar Adaptation Within One Species Exhibits Similar Morphological Specialization but Different Physiological Regulations and Origins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:300. [PMID: 32457902 PMCID: PMC7225305 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals have developed numerous strategies to contend with environmental pressures. We observed that the same adaptation strategy may be used repeatedly by one species in response to a certain environmental challenge. The ladybird Harmonia axyridis displays thermal phenotypic plasticity at different developmental stages. It is unknown whether these superficially similar temperature-induced specializations share similar physiological mechanisms. We performed various experiments to clarify the differences and similarities between these processes. We examined changes in the numbers and sizes of melanic spots in pupae and adults, and confirmed similar patterns for both. The dopamine pathway controls pigmentation levels at both developmental stages of H. axyridis. However, the aspartate-β-alanine pathway controls spot size and number only in the pupae. An upstream regulation analysis revealed the roles of Hox genes and elytral veins in pupal and adult spot formation. Both the pupae and the adults exhibited similar morphological responses to temperatures. However, they occurred in different body parts and were regulated by different pathways. These phenotypic adaptations are indicative of an effective thermoregulatory system in H. axyridis and explains how insects contend with certain environmental pressure based on various control mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xing-Xing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhu-Jun Feng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hao-Su Cong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhan-Sheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yu-Dan Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wen-Meng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Song-Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Ling-Feng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hong-Gang Tian
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yi Feng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Rajpurohit S, Schmidt PS. Latitudinal Pigmentation Variation Contradicts Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure: A Case Study in Tropical Indian Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2019; 10:84. [PMID: 30804808 PMCID: PMC6377395 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on the animal body have been reported in many studies, and melanin has emerged as a protective mechanism. In smaller insects such as Drosophila, replicated patterns of geographical variation in pigmentation have been observed on multiple continents. Such patterns are particularly pronounced on the Indian subcontinent where several species show a parallel cline in pigmentation traits. However, the potential role of UV exposure in generating the observed patterns of pigmentation variation has not been addressed. Here, we examine the association between UV intensity and body pigmentation in D. melanogaster natural populations collected along the latitudinal gradient of the Indian subcontinent. A strong negative relationship was observed between UV intensity and body pigmentation. This analysis clearly indicates that, in the sampled populations, pigmentation variation is independent of UV exposure and related selection pressures. Patterns of pigmentation in natural populations from the Indian subcontinent are better predicted by latitude itself and temperature-related climatic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Rajpurohit
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Paul S Schmidt
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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5
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The genus Drosophila is characterized by a large number of sibling species showing evolutionary significance. J Genet 2017; 95:1053-1064. [PMID: 27994208 DOI: 10.1007/s12041-016-0699-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Mayr (1942) defined sibling species as sympatric forms which are morphologically very similar or indistinguishable, but which possess specific biological characteristics and are reproductively isolated. Another term, cryptic species has also been used for such species. However, this concept changed later. Sibling species are as similar as twins. This category does not necessarily include phylogenetic siblings as members of a superspecies. Since the term sibling species was defined by Mayr, a large number of cases of sibling species pairs/groups have been reported and thus they are widespread in the animal kingdom. However, they seem to be more common in some groups such as insects. In insects, they have been reported in diptera, lepidoptera, coleoptera, orthoptera, hymenoptera and others. Sibling species are widespread among the dipteran insects and as such are well studied because some species are important medically (mosquitoes), genetically (Drosophila) and cytologically (Sciara and Chironomus). The well-studied classical pairs of sibling species in Drosophila are: D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis, and D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Subsequently, a number of sibling species have been added to these pairs and a large number of other sibling species pairs/groups in different species groups of the genus Drosophila have been reported in literature. The present review briefly summarizes the cases of sibling species pairs/groups in the genus Drosophila with their evolutionary significance.
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Massey JH, Wittkopp PJ. The Genetic Basis of Pigmentation Differences Within and Between Drosophila Species. Curr Top Dev Biol 2016; 119:27-61. [PMID: 27282023 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila, as well as in many other plants and animals, pigmentation is highly variable both within and between species. This variability, combined with powerful genetic and transgenic tools as well as knowledge of how pigment patterns are formed biochemically and developmentally, has made Drosophila pigmentation a premier system for investigating the genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for phenotypic evolution. In this chapter, we review and synthesize findings from a rapidly growing body of case studies examining the genetic basis of pigmentation differences in the abdomen, thorax, wings, and pupal cases within and between Drosophila species. A core set of genes, including genes required for pigment synthesis (eg, yellow, ebony, tan, Dat) as well as developmental regulators of these genes (eg, bab1, bab2, omb, Dll, and wg), emerge as the primary sources of this variation, with most genes having been shown to contribute to pigmentation differences both within and between species. In cases where specific genetic changes contributing to pigmentation divergence were identified in these genes, the changes were always located in noncoding sequences and affected cis-regulatory activity. We conclude this chapter by discussing these and other lessons learned from evolutionary genetic studies of Drosophila pigmentation and identify topics we think should be the focus of future work with this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Massey
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - P J Wittkopp
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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7
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Orgogozo V, Morizot B, Martin A. The differential view of genotype-phenotype relationships. Front Genet 2015; 6:179. [PMID: 26042146 PMCID: PMC4437230 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An integrative view of diversity and singularity in the living world requires a better understanding of the intricate link between genotypes and phenotypes. Here we re-emphasize the old standpoint that the genotype-phenotype (GP) relationship is best viewed as a connection between two differences, one at the genetic level and one at the phenotypic level. As of today, predominant thinking in biology research is that multiple genes interact with multiple environmental variables (such as abiotic factors, culture, or symbionts) to produce the phenotype. Often, the problem of linking genotypes and phenotypes is framed in terms of genotype and phenotype maps, and such graphical representations implicitly bring us away from the differential view of GP relationships. Here we show that the differential view of GP relationships is a useful explanatory framework in the context of pervasive pleiotropy, epistasis, and environmental effects. In such cases, it is relevant to view GP relationships as differences embedded into differences. Thinking in terms of differences clarifies the comparison between environmental and genetic effects on phenotypes and helps to further understand the connection between genotypes and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Orgogozo
- CNRS, UMR 7592, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris DiderotParis, France
| | - Baptiste Morizot
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CEPERC UMR 7304Aix en Provence, France
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of CaliforniaBerkeley, CA, USA
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8
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Chromosomal evolution in the Drosophila cardini group (Diptera: Drosophilidae): photomaps and inversion analysis. Genetica 2014; 142:461-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s10709-014-9791-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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9
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Takahashi A. Pigmentation and behavior: potential association through pleiotropic genes in Drosophila. Genes Genet Syst 2014; 88:165-74. [PMID: 24025245 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.88.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular basis of pigmentation variation within and among Drosophila species is largely attributed to genes in melanin biosynthesis pathway, which involves dopamine metabolism. Most of the genetic changes underlying pigmentation variations reported to date are changes at the expression levels of the structural genes in the pathway. Within D. melanogaster, changes in cis-regulatory regions of a gene, ebony, are responsible for the naturally occurring variation of the body pigmentation intensity. This gene is also known to be expressed in glia, and many visual and behavioral abnormalities of its mutants have been reported. This implies that the gene has pleiotropic functions in the nervous systems. In this review, current knowledge on pigmentation variation and melanin biosynthesis pathway are summarized, with some focus on pleiotropic features of ebony and other genes in the pathway. A potential association between pigmentation and behavior through such pleiotropic genes is discussed in light of cis-regulatory structure and pleiotropic mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Takahashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University
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10
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Matute DR, Harris A. The influence of abdominal pigmentation on desiccation and ultraviolet resistance in two species of Drosophila. Evolution 2013; 67:2451-60. [PMID: 23888866 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila yakuba and D. santomea are sister species that differ in their levels of abdominal pigmentation; D. yakuba shows heavily pigmented posterior abdominal segments in both sexes, whereas D. santomea lacks dark pigment anywhere on its body. Using naturally collected lines, we demonstrate the existence of altitudinal variation in abdominal pigmentation in D. yakuba but not in D. santomea. We use the variation in pigmentation within D. yakuba and two body-color mutants in D. yakuba to elucidate selective advantage of differences in pigmentation. Our results indicate that although differences in abdominal pigmentation have no effect on desiccation resistance, lighter pigmentation confers ultraviolet radiation resistance in this pair of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Matute
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, 1101 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
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12
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Kopp A. Metamodels and phylogenetic replication: a systematic approach to the evolution of developmental pathways. Evolution 2009; 63:2771-89. [PMID: 19545263 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00761.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Molecular genetic analysis of phenotypic variation has revealed many examples of evolutionary change in the developmental pathways that control plant and animal morphology. A major challenge is to integrate the information from diverse organisms and traits to understand the general patterns of developmental evolution. This integration can be facilitated by evolutionary metamodels-traits that have undergone multiple independent changes in different species and whose development is controlled by well-studied regulatory pathways. The metamodel approach provides the comparative equivalent of experimental replication, allowing us to test whether the evolution of each developmental pathway follows a consistent pattern, and whether different pathways are predisposed to different modes of evolution by their intrinsic organization. A review of several metamodels suggests that the structure of developmental pathways may bias the genetic basis of phenotypic evolution, and highlights phylogenetic replication as a value-added approach that produces deeper insights into the mechanisms of evolution than single-species analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
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Parkash R, Singh S, Ramniwas S. Seasonal changes in humidity level in the tropics impact body color polymorphism and desiccation resistance in Drosophila jambulina-Evidence for melanism-desiccation hypothesis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2009; 55:358-368. [PMID: 19200435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2008] [Revised: 12/26/2008] [Accepted: 01/05/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila jambulina exhibits color dimorphism controlled by a single locus but its ecological significance is not clear. Dark and light morphs differ significantly in body melanisation, desiccation resistance, rate of water loss, mating activity and fecundity. Interestingly, this species lacks clinal variation for body size, desiccation resistance and life history traits. For body melanisation, lack of geographical variation as well as plastic effects is not in agreement with a thermal melanism hypothesis. However, based on field data, there are seasonal changes in phenotypic frequencies of dark and light body color morphs which correlate significantly with variation in humidity levels. Under short-term (8h) desiccation stress, we observed higher number of assortative matings, longer copulation period and increased fecundity for dark strains as compared with light strains. By contrast, both the morphs when exposed to high humid conditions exhibited higher assortative matings and fecundity for light strains as compared with dark strains. In tropical populations of D. jambulina, body color polymorphism seems to be maintained through humidity changes as opposed to thermal melanism. Thus, seasonal changes in the frequency of body color morphs in this tropical species supports melanism-desiccation hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Parkash
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, India
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14
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Abstract
Pigmentation is a rapidly evolving trait that can play important roles in mimicry, sexual selection, thermoregulation, and other adaptive processes in many groups of animals. In Drosophila, pigmentation can differ dramatically among closely related taxa, presenting a good opportunity to dissect the genetic changes underlying species divergence. In this report, we investigate the genetic basis of color pattern variation between two allopatric subspecies of Drosophila malerkotliana, a widespread member of the ananassae species subgroup. In D. malerkotliana malerkotliana, the last three abdominal segments are darkly pigmented in males but not in females, while in D. malerkotliana pallens both sexes lack dark pigmentation. Composite interval mapping in F2 hybrid progeny shows that this difference is largely controlled by three quantitative trait loci (QTL) located on the 2L chromosome arm, which is homologous to the 3R of D. melanogaster (Muller element E). Using highly recombinant introgression strains produced by repeated backcrossing and phenotypic selection, we show that these QTL do not correspond to any of the candidate genes known to be involved in pigment patterning and synthesis in Drosophila. These results, in combination with similar analyses in other Drosophila species, indicate that different genetic and molecular changes are responsible for the evolution of similar phenotypic traits in different lineages. This feature makes Drosophila color patterns a powerful model for investigating how the genetic basis of trait evolution is influenced by the intrinsic organization of regulatory pathways controlling the development of these traits.
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15
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The LTR retrotransposon micropia in the cardini group of Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae): a possible case of horizontal transfer. Genetica 2008; 134:335-44. [PMID: 18259879 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-008-9241-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2007] [Accepted: 01/19/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The presence of the micropia retroelement from the Ty1-copia family of LTR retroelements was investigated in three species of the Drosophila cardini group. Southern blot analysis suggested the existence of at least four micropia copies in the genomes of D. cardinoides, D. neocardini and D. polymorpha populations. The high sequence similarity between dhMiF2 and Dm11 clones (micropia retroelements isolated from D. hydei and D. melanogaster, respectively) with micropia sequences amplified from D. cardini group genome supports the hypothesis that this retroelement plays an active role in horizontal transfer events between D. hydei and the D. cardini group.
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Abstract
For decades, evolutionary biologists have argued that changes in cis-regulatory sequences constitute an important part of the genetic basis for adaptation. Although originally based on first principles, this claim is now empirically well supported: numerous studies have identified cis-regulatory mutations with functionally significant consequences for morphology, physiology and behaviour. The focus has now shifted to considering whether cis-regulatory and coding mutations make qualitatively different contributions to phenotypic evolution. Cases in which parallel mutations have produced parallel trait modifications in particular suggest that some phenotypic changes are more likely to result from cis-regulatory mutations than from coding mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Wray
- Department of Biology and Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
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17
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Evans TM, Marcus JM. A simulation study of the genetic regulatory hierarchy for butterfly eyespot focus determination. Evol Dev 2006; 8:273-83. [PMID: 16686638 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-142x.2006.00098.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The color patterns on the wings of butterflies have been an important model system in evolutionary developmental biology. Two types of models have been used to study these patterns. The first type of model employs computational techniques and generalized mechanisms of pattern formation to make predictions about how color patterns will vary as parameters of the model are changed. These generalized mechanisms include diffusion gradient, reaction-diffusion, lateral inhibition, and threshold responses. The second type of model uses known genetic interactions from Drosophila melanogaster and patterns of candidate gene expression in one of several butterfly species (most often Junonia (Precis) coenia or Bicyclus anynana) to propose specific genetic regulatory hierarchies that appear to be involved in color pattern formation. This study combines these two approaches using computational techniques to test proposed genetic regulatory hierarchies for the determination of butterfly eyespot foci (also known as border ocelli foci). Two computer programs, STELLA 8.1 and Delphi 2.0, were used to simulate the determination of eyespot foci. Both programs revealed weaknesses in a genetic model previously proposed for eyespot focus determination. On the basis of these simulations, we propose two revised models for eyespot focus determination and identify components of the genetic regulatory hierarchy that are particularly sensitive to changes in model parameter values. These components may play a key role in the evolution of butterfly eyespots. Simulations like these may be useful tools for the study of other evolutionary developmental model systems and reveal similar sensitive components of the relevant genetic regulatory hierarchies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis M Evans
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, 42101-1080, USA
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18
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Brisson JA, Wilder J, Hollocher H. PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE CARDINI GROUP OF DROSOPHILA WITH RESPECT TO CHANGES IN PIGMENTATION. Evolution 2006. [DOI: 10.1554/05-552.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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19
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Carbone MA, Llopart A, deAngelis M, Coyne JA, Mackay TFC. Quantitative trait loci affecting the difference in pigmentation between Drosophila yakuba and D. santomea. Genetics 2005; 171:211-25. [PMID: 15972457 PMCID: PMC1456512 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.105.044412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2005] [Accepted: 06/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, we studied the genetic basis of the difference in pigmentation between two sister species of Drosophila: Drosophila yakuba, which, like other members of the D. melanogaster subgroup, shows heavy black pigmentation on the abdomen of males and females, and D. santomea, an endemic to the African island of São Tomé, which has virtually no pigmentation. Here we mapped four QTL with large effects on this interspecific difference in pigmentation: two on the X chromosome and one each on the second and third chromosomes. The same four QTL were detected in male hybrids in the backcrosses to both D. santomea and D. yakuba and in the female D. yakuba backcross hybrids. All four QTL exhibited strong epistatic interactions in male backcross hybrids, but only one pair of QTL interacted in females from the backcross to D. yabuka. All QTL from each species affected pigmentation in the same direction, consistent with adaptive evolution driven by directional natural selection. The regions delimited by the QTL included many positional candidate loci in the pigmentation pathway, including genes affecting catecholamine biosynthesis, melanization of the cuticle, and many additional pleiotropic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Anna Carbone
- Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, USA.
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Hatadani LM, Baptista JCR, Souza WN, Klaczko LB. Colour polymorphism in Drosophila mediopunctata: genetic (chromosomal) analysis and nonrandom association with chromosome inversions. Heredity (Edinb) 2005; 93:525-34. [PMID: 15305174 DOI: 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of three dark spots on the abdomen is typical of the tripunctata group of Drosophila, which is the second largest Neotropical group, with 56 species. In some species, such as D. mediopunctata, the colour pattern varies considerably: ranging from flies showing no spots up to flies with three dark spots. In this paper, we present a genetic (chromosomal) analysis of this character showing that this colour polymorphism is genetically determined mainly by the second chromosome. Since this chromosome is the most polymorphic for inversions in this species, we also examined the influence of the inversions on this character. We used strains in which different second chromosomes were placed on the same genetic background and the offspring between them. We found a nonrandom association between the number of spots and the inversions PA0 and PC0. Thus, our results are consistent with the idea that the factors or genes determining a conspicuous polymorphism are likely to be associated, forming a supergene, and this association would be most efficiently accomplished through a chromosome inversion. Moreover, this is the first time that an association between a conspicuous morphological polymorphism and chromosome inversions has been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Hatadani
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas, 13083-970 SP, Brazil
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Wilder JA, Dyreson EG, O'Neill RJ, Spangler ML, Gupta R, Wilder AS, Hollocher H. Contrasting modes of natural selection acting on pigmentation genes in the Drosophila dunni subgroup. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2005; 302:469-82. [PMID: 15384167 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Genes that encode for divergent adaptive traits may have genealogies that contrast with those from loci that are not functionally involved in differentiation. Here, we examine DNA sequence variation among the species of the eastern Caribbean Drosophila dunni subgroup at two loci, yellow and dopa decaboxylase (Ddc), which both play integral roles in pigmentation patterning of adult Drosophila. Phylogenetic analyses of these loci produce gene genealogies with topologies that mirror those described for other nuclear genes: the six morphologically distinct species within the subgroup are divided into only three lineages, with one lineage containing four species that share extensive ancestral polymorphism. At the Ddc locus these major lineages are delineated only by silent site variation. We observe a significantly higher rate of synonymous site divergence than non-synonymous divergence, consistent with strong purifying selection acting on the locus. In contrast, the yellow locus exhibits patterns of amino acid divergence and nucleotide diversity that are consistent with recent diversifying selection acting in two different lineages. This selection appears to be targeting amino acid variants in the signal sequence of the Yellow protein, a region which is tightly constrained among members of the larger D. cardini radiation. This result highlights not only the potential importance of yellow in the evolution of divergent pigmentation patterns among members of the D. dunni subgroup, but also hints that variation in signal peptide sequences may play a role in phenotypic diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Wilder
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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Brisson JA, De Toni DC, Duncan I, Templeton AR. ABDOMINAL PIGMENTATION VARIATION IN DROSOPHILA POLYMORPHA: GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE TRAIT, AND UNDERLYING PHYLOGEOGRAPHY. Evolution 2005. [DOI: 10.1554/04-608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Dombeck I, Jaenike J. ECOLOGICAL GENETICS OF ABDOMINAL PIGMENTATION IN DROSOPHILA FALLENI: A PLEIOTROPIC LINK TO NEMATODE PARASITISM. Evolution 2004. [DOI: 10.1554/03-299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Wittkopp PJ, Carroll SB, Kopp A. Evolution in black and white: genetic control of pigment patterns in Drosophila. Trends Genet 2003; 19:495-504. [PMID: 12957543 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-9525(03)00194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia J Wittkopp
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, 227 Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Wilder JA, Hollocher H. RECENT RADIATION OF ENDEMIC CARIBBEAN DROSOPHILA OF THE DUNNI SUBGROUP INFERRED FROM MULTILOCUS DNA SEQUENCE VARIATION. Evolution 2003. [DOI: 10.1554/02-696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Llopart A, Elwyn S, Lachaise D, Coyne JA. GENETICS OF A DIFFERENCE IN PIGMENTATION BETWEEN DROSOPHILA YAKUBA AND DROSOPHILA SANTOMEA. Evolution 2002. [DOI: 10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[2262:goadip]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Hollocher H, Hatcher JL, Dyreson EG. Evolution of abdominal pigmentation differences across species in the Drosophila dunni subgroup. Evolution 2000; 54:2046-56. [PMID: 11209781 DOI: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2000.tb01248.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila dunni subgroup displays a nearly perfect latitudinal cline in abdominal pigmentation that likely resulted from selective forces acting in the habitat of each species during speciation. Here we characterize the nature of this clinal variation by developing a quantitative measure to assess variation in abdominal pigmentation within and between the D. dunni subgroup species. Using discriminant analysis, we confirm the existence of a cline and find that our quantitative measure of pigmentation distinguishes each of the species with singular efficacy. We then combine our quantitative phenotypic analysis of pigmentation with the phylogeny of the D. dunni subgroup species and map the species relationships into the three-dimensional morphological space defined by our pigmentation measures. In this manner, we can visualize how the species have traversed the morphological pigmentation space during the course of speciation. Our analysis reveals that natural selection has caused overall intensity of pigmentation among the northernmost species of the cline to converge. Along with this convergence in phenotype has been a relaxation in expression of sexual dimorphism in these species, indicating a possible shift in the relative intensity of natural and sexual selection. Our analysis indicates an accelerated rate of change in pigmentation for the darkest species in addition to this species evolving a novel abdominal pigmentation trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hollocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544, USA.
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