An Evolutionary Perspective of Dopachrome Tautomerase Enzymes in Metazoans

Abstract

Melanin plays a pivotal role in the cellular processes of several metazoans. The final step of the enzymically-regulated melanin biogenesis is the conversion of dopachrome into dihydroxyindoles, a reaction catalyzed by a class of enzymes called dopachrome tautomerases. We traced dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) and dopachrome converting enzyme (DCE) genes throughout metazoans and we could show that only one class is present in most of the phyla. While DCTs are typically found in deuterostomes, DCEs are present in several protostome phyla, including arthropods and mollusks. The respective DCEs belong to the yellow gene family, previously reported to be taxonomically restricted to insects, bacteria and fungi. Mining genomic and transcriptomic data of metazoans, we updated the distribution of DCE/yellow genes, demonstrating their presence and active expression in most of the lophotrochozoan phyla as well as in copepods (Crustacea). We have traced one intronless DCE/yellow gene through most of the analyzed lophotrochozoan genomes and we could show that it was subjected to genomic diversification in some species, while it is conserved in other species. DCE/yellow was expressed in most phyla, although it showed tissue specific expression patterns. In the parasitic copepod Mytilicola intestinalis DCE/yellow even belonged to the 100 most expressed genes. Both tissue specificity and high expression suggests that diverse functions of this gene family also evolved in other phyla apart from insects.

Genetic Manipulation of Ticks: A Paradigm Shift in Tick and Tick-Borne Diseases Research

“…A transformation marker system that results in phenotypes visible to the naked eye due to changes in the color of melanin pigments is highly desirable for tick transgenesis. The final step of enzymatically-regulated melanin biogenesis is the conversion of dopachrome into dihydroxyindoles, a reaction catalyzed by a class of enzymes called dopachrome tautomerases (DCT) and the functionally redundant enzyme in insects, bacteria, and fungi, dopachrome converting enzyme/yellow protein (DCE) ( Rosani et al., 2019 ). Yellow protein marker has been effectively utilized in mosquito transgenics ( Li et al., 2017a ).…”

Application-Oriented Marine Isomerases in Biocatalysis

“…Various other articles are present dealing with dopachrome tautomerases involved in the final step of the enzymically regulated melanin biogenesis for the conversion of dopachrome into dihydroxyindoles. In marine organisms, especially in bivalves, the enzymes involved in the biogenesis of melanin are recognized as the general class of phenoloxidases while less is known about the existence and functional role of dopachrome tautomerase genes [ 88 ] in mollusk or other organisms [ 89 , 90 ]. However, this field of investigation is quite active due to the role of D-dopachrome tautomerase as cytokine, member of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor protein superfamily.…”

Yellow‐b, ‐c, ‐e and ‐h are required for normal body coloration in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

“…They are yellow ( y‐y ), b, c, d / e3, e, f, g, h, MRJP and x clades (Arakane et al, 2010; Ferguson et al, 2011). The y‐x clade appears as the ancestral insect's yellow , with the other yellow clades probably originating from x ancestors by taxon‐specific functional diversification and expansions (Ferguson et al, 2011; Rosani et al, 2019). Seven clades, y‐y, ‐c, ‐d, ‐e, ‐f, ‐g , and ‐h genes are already present before divergence of the hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects (Ferguson et al, 2011).…”

“…Moreover, yellow genes also present and actively express in most of the lophotrochozoan phyla as well as in copepods (Crustacea) (Rosani et al, 2019). Apart from the aforementioned organisms, yellow ‐like genes have been identified in bacteria, fungi and micro‐eukaryotes, and in few other species, namely in Brachiostoma floridae (Chordata), Naegleria gruberi (amoeba) and Lepeophtheirus salmonis (copepod) (Ferguson et al, 2011; Rosani et al, 2019).…”